In a past post "The Trial of Abraham" I talked about what Abraham must have felt as he was asked to sacrifice his son.
"Such must have been the case with Father Abraham. A prophet of God. One of the mighty and great ones that walked on the earth. He was obedient to all of God's commandments, yet he was asked to do hard things. Things that would probably shake most to the very core. Can you imagine being asked to sacrifice your only son. Especially when you felt to the very core it was wrong I cannot imagine the pain Father Abraham must have felt. Do you think that perhaps as he was walking he questioned the Lord in his heart. Do you think he pondered all the good he had done and possibly wondered why he was asked to do such a thing. Thoughts must have crossed his mind like, I am a good man. I have done all I could to obey. And then other thoughts like, If only I had been better or I must not be good, and even, Does the Lord love me. How could he if he asks things that break my heart and the hearts of those I love".
Recently I was once again reminded of this great story, but this time my thoughts turned to God and what was going on in his mind, not that I know that, but it is interesting to ponder such things and I find great strength in maybe gaining a little understanding in His thoughts and plans for us.
In the story we think often of what Abraham went through and seldom think about what God must have thought. I was thinking that God in his defense, not that we have to defend God, but sometimes we often wonder how he could ask such hard things of his children. I came to the understanding that the reason he asks hard things of his children is that he knows us. Take Abraham for instance. I am certain that God knew him and knew of his strength and conviction way before he even asked the question he already knew what Abraham would do. He knew what Abraham didn't know yet. He knew that Abraham had the strength to do hard things. I believe that God does not just randomly place hard things on us to fail. I believe that he already knows how strong we are and just how capable we are in being able to do the hard things he asks of us way before he asks them of us.
God already knew that Abraham and his son could do it. Abraham and his son didn't realize it yet, but they came to understand that they could do hard things, something that God already understood about them and knew. He did not set them up to fail, he never does that and never will. He will never give us more then we can bear or take on. Yes it seems like it's unfair and impossible, but we, like Abraham have to trust that God knows best and move forward understanding God does not give us impossible tasks to perform. God already knows we can do it and already has given us the strength and power to succeed.
We are all faced with seemingly impossible challenges. We often question God's wisdom in placing them on us. We often wish for lighter roads and easier task, not taking into consideration that God knows us personally and his design is for us to succeed not fail. He already knows we have the power to do so.
Now you might be asking, "If that is the case, why do I fail so often." The answer is not God's lack of belief in us, but our own lack of believing in ourselves. Our own failure to understand our potential and strength. After all we are created in his image and have been sent to earth to succeed, not fail. His design is not one of failure, but one of success and happiness. As we learn to trust his belief in us and learn to trust that he believes we are strong enough for the things he asks of us we can achieve great things.
No matter what the trial, no matter what the test, he believes we can do it. His belief in us is perfect.
I was thinking the other day about hard things he has asked of me and I had a strong feeling that he asked them because he knew I could do if I wanted to. One of the hard things I felt that I was asked to do was start this blog. It has been one of the hardest things I have done. The judgment's that have come have been at times painful and hard to handle, but I take great strength in knowing that God does not ask us to do things we cannot do. That does not mean it won't be hard, difficult, easy, and yes sometimes out right impossible. I take confidence in knowing that God knows me and when he asks he already knows that I can do it.
Father Abraham was a man of strength and power. His power came as he learned to accept the understanding that God knew him better then he knew himself. As we learn to trust in that all trials and difficulties can be overcome and we can gain a greater understanding that God knows us and trusts in our strength to do hard things.
No matter what your trial, no matter how hard it seems, take comfort in knowing there is a God and he knew before he placed the trial in your path that you have the strength to do it. God knows you and knows you can succeed in all things. Life is a journey, hard, difficult, yet filled with joy and we come to understand we have the strength to do hard things.
Enjoy the Journey
Brad
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