In the middle, yet...

Walking with God over the years, I received many promises. From the Word, which are the written promises from the Bible. And also God’s spoken promises to me personally.

I wrote these promises down and reminded God of them from time to time.

I think of them frequently and declare them. Sometime, I will feel led to pray about it, many times, it will just be trusting God to fulfil it in His time.

From the promise to the fulfilment, is what I call "in the middle".

Around last year, I received news that my dad had to go for a heart procedure. I was feeling really down. Lord, I am still praying for him to know you. For him to receive and trust You, as his personal Lord and Saviour. That has been my prayer for more than 20 years. Along with this, there are other long-awaited prayers.

I felt that the Lord has given me many of His promises. Yes I hold on to them. I trust in Him and I believe in Him. But Lord, after holding on for so long, it has not come to pass. Did I hear you right?

Many times I feel, the “problem” is with me. The receiver. I know that God is able to do it. He is more than able. Doing things that seemed impossible for us is like turning His hand for Him. It is easy. Am I waiting for something that I hear wrong?

My heart says I want to trust in God, but on the other hand, I tell the Lord, You got to show me something Lord. Give me at least something for me to know that the visions and the promises I received are really from You.

Have you ever experienced such turmoil?

I found someone in the Bible, who had.

In the book of Genesis, chapter 12,13, we read that Abraham (called Abram at that time) received the promise from God that his descendants will inherit the land of Canaan and will be a great nation. And in chapter 15, again God promise Abram that his descendants will be numerous like the stars. He believed in the Lord.

“Then He said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land as your possession.” Gen15:7 (NLT)

But, Abraham had one honest question.

“O Sovereign Lord, how can I be sure that I will actually possess it?” Gen 15:8 (NLT)

When I read this, it just put into words how I felt. For Abraham, it was actually more. The promise was talking about his descendants. The promise will actually come to pass only when he is no longer around. He will not be able to see the promise being fulfilled. At that time, he did not even have a child. And the situation was definitely not favourable for that to happen!

Lord, yes I trust in you. But how can I be sure that I will receive what you have said to me. Nothing seems to be happening for so long, am I hearing you right? Am I doing things right?

What should I do to “make it happen”?

God then asked Abraham to bring Him a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old female ram, a turtledove and a young pigeon. Abraham cut them in two and placed each piece opposite the other except for the birds.

He then fell into a deep sleep. When the sun went down and it was dark, there appeared to be a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces.

And it was written on that same day, the Lord made a covenant with Abraham;

“I have given this land to your descendants.” Gen 15:18 (NLT)

The animals brought in are for an offering. That day God cut a blood covenant with Abraham. The different animals, from a heifer to a turtledove; used to be that the rich brought in bigger animals and the poor could bring in turtledove or pigeons if they could not afford a goat or a ram. How God wants to be inclusive of all the types of faith that we had. It may be a huge faith, or even a faith as small as a mustard seed. He takes it all.

And look at what happened. Abraham fell into a deep sleep. The One who walked down through the pieces of sacrifices was the Lord Himself. In a covenant, both parties usually had a responsibility towards the fulfilment of what was promised to the other person. But in this case, God walked down the sacrifices Himself. He bears the responsibility of the covenant fulfilment. He Himself will bear the consequences should the covenant be broken by the other party. God does, however, call Abraham to live in loyalty and faithfulness with Him in response to this grace. (Gen 17:1, 10-14).

And I was thinking, Lord, You do not have to do this. You do not have to make a covenant with Abram. You have said that You promised him, not once, not twice but thrice. (Gen 12,13,15)

You are Lord, You are God. You are Sovereign. Your word is sure and your promise is enough.

Yet, out of Your love, You came down and reached out to us. You choose to speak in a way that assures our heart which tends to be unable to understand Your ways. In all our limitations and weaknesses, You still love us.

Can you see how tender is God’s heart towards us?

Through revelations like these, I get to know more and more of His character. When I know Him in such a personal way, I can trust Him more and more, as I know His heart for me.

And how He provides answers and fulfils His promise in His time, is a confirmation for me that as He is faithful in this one thing, He will be faithful in others also.

I pray that my faith will continue to grow as I continue to get to know Him. That in the midst of turbulence and uncertainties, yes, in the middle, yet..my faith will anchor me to Him. I want my faith to be the runway, the catalyst for the demonstration of God’s power. His power is always available. Faith is the key that opens up the access to the supply. All, for others to experience Him.

I count myself blessed beyond measure, to have such a loving Father.