Fully Persuaded in the Darkest Moments

Are you fully persuaded, even in the darkest moments, that God is able, that God has the power to do what he’s promised to do in your life?

Our world is certainly facing some of those darkest moments. The building hurt, grief, desperation and intensity of a sickness no one knows how to stop or when it will end.

I was laying in bed the other night, trying to fall asleep and thinking about our current situation.

In these quarantine, social distanced, unknown, unsettled days, we’re are sitting in West Africa unsure at how prepared this continent is to face the coming crisis. We feel burdened for those around us and have an opportunity to pray harder than ever before that God will move in this nation.

But as I tried to fall asleep, I had to ask myself how fully persuaded I am that this can actually happen.

Can God do the impossible even in these dark moments? Am I fully persuaded, no matter what might come?

Am I fully persuaded in all situations at all times?

Healing for whatever autoimmune crazy my body is going through.

Protection over our daughter with asthma.

Covering over our families in the states, family members who are essential workers on the front lines.

Creativity to continue what we are here to do.

Boldness to speak when we can.

Hope when it feels like we can do nothing.

Trust when the embassy emails come, knowing we have two in our family who qualify for the flights out.

Am I fully persuaded that God is able and powerful even in those situations?

Romans 4 says, “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 in 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.” 

I don’t know what God has promised you that seems like an impossibility right now. I don’t know what you are waiting for or what you are facing in this crisis. I don’t know what your story holds.

I don’t know your hurt or what you are up against that is challenging your faith in the promises of God.

I don’t know what has been cancelled or forgotten in the midst of a pandemic, the disappointments, struggles and challenges this has brought to your heart.

But I do know that I needed this reminder tonight.

We all need this reminder.

Abraham faced a promise that went against the facts of life. They were old, too old for having children yet he clung to a promise. A precious promise. The promise of a son, a nation, a heritage, a people. Against all hope, in hope he believed. Even when faced with impossibilities of age, time and reality. Abraham didn’t waver in his trust.

How often have we let situations or troubles or circumstances cause us to weaken in our faith or waver through unbelief? When was the last time we felt fully persuaded that God’s promises were not only true but that God had the power to do what he has promised?

The verse goes a step further and says that this unwavering belief strengthened Abraham’s faith and allowed him a chance to give glory to God.

We all have opportunities to grow in this season. What can we learn? What can we study? How can we be strengthened?

How can we use this time to further our intimacy with our loving Father in Heaven? Are we growing in our prayer life, our belief, our trust, our hope?

I’m asking myself these questions. I’m using them to take and honest, open, real look at my heart.

Ann Voskamp recently wrote, “Whenever we are given hard things, we are always  given the grace to turn it into a glorious thing. And whenever we are looking for the way through, we need only look to You, Jesus, who is the Way. And You calm our hearts and move in our hearts with the truth: The way to be brave is to endure. The way through suffering is to keep opening our hands. The way through daily anxiety is divine intimacy.”

Endurance.

Open Hands.

Unwavering faith.

Strong trust.

Being fully persuaded.

Diving intimacy.

How can you take an honest, open look at your heart today?

When you ask these questions, what do you see?

Are you fully persuaded even in the darkest moments?