Fearless Faith and Awestruck Joy -Grace so Wondrous and Free
“Hardship often prepares an ordinary person for an extraordinary destiny.” C.S.Lewis
God had chosen Abraham to be the Father of Faith, to be the lineage through whom Christ would be born, to establish a nation, and to be the one through whom God would bless the world. “6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham” (Galatians 3).
artwork used by permission of the artist Ronald Barba and is protected by copyright—for further information, please go to http://www. barba-art.com
To prepare Abraham for the greatest act of faith that he would ultimately perform in his willingness to take Isaac to place on the altar (as recorded in Genesis 22); God allowed many trials in Abraham’s life. God step by step took Abraham’s hand to lead him forward. Abraham stumbled a lot along that path and even fell down many times; but, each time God intervened.
It was God who stepped in when Abraham (not just once, but twice) told a King that Sarah was his sister because Abraham was afraid. (First in Egypt as recorded in Genesis 12 and many years later again in Gerar before King Abimelech as recorded in Genesis 20). Twice, he was willing for her to be given in marriage to someone else out of fear for his own life. Both times God stepped in and protected Sarah as well as Abraham. Abraham decided to do things his way and had a child by Hagar his maid—trying to help God to fulfill the promise of children. Again, God stepped had to step in and then God provided for Hagar and Ishmael from whom 12 princes established their kingdoms in the middle east. (Genesis 25). Throughout the story of Abraham, we are given the pictures of great moments of faith and great moments of blunders by Abraham. Yet, the one who was faithful was God. I don’t know about you; but, I find that very comforting. It is God who chose Abraham and every step of the way, God remained faithful. Through the blundering moments, through the doubt filled moments, through the moments of fear, through the moments of victory and through the moments of personal failures—God remained faithful, protected Abraham, and finished the work that God had ordained to be accomplished in Abraham’s life. Abraham was not righteous; but, God covered Abraham with God’s own righteousness. Abraham’s faith at times was a blundering mess; but, God always drew him back to a place of Grace. What an amazing God, I serve!! I am humbled and filled with awe. That awe breathes forth a joy beyond anything I could possibly have ever imagined. Just to think God loves me.
What about you? As you look back at all the days of your life, are you not amazed by all that God has done, through the trials, the failures, the moments of grace, the laughter and the tears? I have no fear for He is with me. I excitedly look forward to today’s moments of wonder in which He displays glimpses of Himself to me.
Listen to this song, Grace, Grace-God’s Grace
The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header and the portrait above is Ronald Barba. Please go to his website ( http://www.barba-art.com) for information regarding obtaining copies or to commission him to create a masterpiece for you. Feel free to email him at Ron@Barba-Art.com to discuss any art projects.
©2015 Effie Darlene Barba
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.