Thinking about some of the high school kids that are in playoffs for sports in these coming weeks makes me think about my high school experience. Now, don’t get me wrong, I loved my high school and there were many things that our school was really good at (music, basketball, etc.)… but football just wasn’t one of those things. We rarely won a game, and actually, when my sister was in school there, they didn’t win a single football game in the 4 years she was in high school.
We were definitely the “underdog” and by definition (and reputation) normally had no chance of winning. We were expected to loose. Yet, there must have been some hope somewhere, right? Our team may not have had the best skills in the city, but if nothing else, they had HOPE. If they had absolutely no hope, they would never even suited up. Each week, as they stepped onto the field, they believed in hope that somehow, someway, they just MIGHT be able to pull out a win.
That’s kind of the situation we see with dear old “Father Abraham.” God tells him that he will be the father of many nations… yet he looks around and sees that … well … he sees that he’s OLD … 100 years old actually. And his wife, Sarah, yeah… she was 90. I’m guessing that their HOPE to have children was LONG gone. Yet, we read this awesome passage in Romans 4:18- 22
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening of his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed.
I don’t think this idea of being “against all hope” is not too distant from our own realities.
You, like Abraham and Sarah, wish desperately that you could have a family. Yet, as the days and the years tick by, hope for a spouse or children begins to fade.
Or perhaps the bad economy has taken a toll on you. As you search the classifieds day after day and submit resume number 643, you begin to wonder if you’ll ever find another job.
You’re battling an illness. And no matter how hard you fight, it seems to fight back even stronger.
That pile of homework will never end.
It seems as if no one sees the pain you’re going through.
The college tuition is just too much.
The secret sins cover you with shame.
Guilt and fear threaten to eat you alive
YOU’RE AGAINST ALL HOPE.
May we, like Abraham, have faith to face the fact that while our situations seem hopeless… our God is faithful to fulfill his promises. I mean seriously… a 90-year old woman and a 100-year old man were able to have a child!
As was written of Abraham, let it be said of us as well:
“AGAINST ALL HOPE THEY, IN HOPE, BELIEVED!”
Lord, thank you for giving us the example of Abraham as comfort when we face situations that seem to hold no hope. We pray that we would not “waver through unbelief” but rather be “strengthened in faith” and give glory to you. May our hearts be “fully persuaded” that You have the power to do what you have promised in our lives. When we find ourselves “against all hope” may we in HOPE… believe. In Jesus’ Powerful Name, AMEN!
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