July 23, 2021
When You Can’t See the Road Ahead
Rachel Wojo
Today’s Truth
Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6 NIV).
Friend to Friend
As a child, my parents took me to church every time the doors were open. I heard thousands of sermons in my childhood and every sermon held at least one illustration. I certainly don’t remember all of them, but there is one that stuck. One Sunday morning, the pastor explained that when we’re driving a car in the dark, we can’t see all the way to our destination. But we get in the car and trust that the car lights will remain on. As we drive, little by little, the roads are illuminated.
No one ever stomps their foot and says, “Well, I’m just not going to go anywhere tonight because my car’s lights aren’t shining all the way to where I need to go.” How ridiculous, right? No, we get in the car and trust that the lights will reveal the path as we move in the right direction.
Sometimes life turns out the lights and we feel like we’re left standing in the dark. Maybe you find yourself living in a dark moment right now and you have no idea what the future holds. Heartache, diagnosis, or loss has landed in your home or heart and suddenly, you don’t know where you’re going. You’re not alone! Today’s key verse, Genesis 15:6, is an affirmative, beautiful description of Abraham’s faith: Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6 NIV). However, moments before this verse, Abraham flat-out told God, “I know You are Who You say You are, but I can’t see how Your promises are going to come true.”
You see, Abraham had been promised by God that he would have a son. And yet, here he was, “as good as dead” (Romans 4:19), and still, no son. Not only did Abraham grapple with the lack of provision, but he also struggled to see a glimmer of hope that God would provide what He had promised. He looked at the path ahead and started drumming up his own plan B. “If the car lights won’t shine all the way to where I can see, well, then I’ll just decide to stay right here.”
But in God’s graciousness, He revealed to Abraham a part of His plan. He told Abraham to look up at the sky and count the stars, and then added, “You’ll have as many children as stars in the sky, Abraham.”
Abraham had a choice in that moment of God speaking to him. He could have chosen to continue looking down. He could have chosen to look up and be completely overwhelmed. Or he could have chosen to look up, yet not believe the promise of God. But he chose to take God at His Word.
On that dark, starry night, Abraham shifted his gaze to the awesome wonder of his gracious God and said, “God, I believe You. If You can speak to me so clearly, if You Who created the night sky and thousands of stars is promising to make a way when I can’t see it, then how could I not choose to trust You as the divine Creator who loves me and has a special plan for me?”
Abraham didn’t see a way that God could grant him what he promised: family and opportunity. Yet even as he questioned God with “how” and “where,” God revealed to Abraham that he was standing on the land that would be a part of fulfilling His promises.
Could it be that perhaps you are standing on the very ground that God plans to use to take you to the next destination He has for you? That maybe you are missing it because of dark circumstances and a glance up at the God who created the stars would be enough of a shift in perspective to reveal the next step He has for you?
May He open our eyes to the plan He has for us, even and especially in the dark.
Let’s Pray
Lord, I come to You, the One who placed the stars and multiplied them. I’m empty and needy and I don’t know what to do. It seems I’ve waited for an answer and yet there is none in sight. Open doors of opportunity and provide the wisdom and discernment I desperately need. When fear overwhelms me, let me hear Your voice speaking to my heart.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Which of Abraham’s steps of faith would you like to emulate today? Share it in the comments!
More from the Girlfriends
What desperate prayer do you find yourself whispering in the dark? If you enjoyed this devotion, you’ll love Rachel’s FREE Desperate for God Bible reading plan and Desperate for God: 31 Prayers of Men and Women in the Bible, a prayer journal, and a Bible reading plan.
© 2021 by Rachel Wojo. All rights reserved.
Originally published Friday, 23 July 2021.
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