The Grace of Sarah: a 5-Day Devotional for Those Called to WaitIhe Atụ

Day 1 - More Questions Than Answers

"Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised" -Genesis 21:1 (NIV)

There is nothing more grueling than a season of waiting. It can seem endless and sometimes even pointless. If you have ever had to wait on a promise from God, you might have asked yourself the following questions:

“Why me?”
“Why not now?”
“Why this?”

Many times, it seems like others get exactly what they want when they want it. If you can relate, let me first affirm that you are human. If you have questioned the process or maybe even questioned God, not only are you human, but you are in good company. Over the next few days, we will explore these three questions through the lens of scripture and with the advantage of knowing how the story ends. As uncomfortable as it is, we will see that there is something divine about God-ordained waiting seasons.

What exactly is a God-ordained waiting season? It is what it sounds like – a season of seeming delay that might include or follow a promise from God. It is a season interwoven with episodes of doubt but anchored in an undercurrent of assurance, also known as faith, that God is doing something in your life.

We see it with Abraham and Sarah, Joseph, Moses, David, Job, Hannah, and many others throughout scripture. Over the next few days, we will take a closer look at Sarah, whose wait was less than perfect but redeemed by God. Just as it will for you and me, her wait eventually ends, but not before confronting tough questions of faith, grace, and timing.

Why does God make some people wait? Is it even God, or are our seasons of delay self-inflicted or an indication of demonic influence? These are all valid questions. I pray that by the end of this devotional, you are encouraged by the knowledge that everything God does works for our good. If He trusts you to wait, know that the result will transcend even you.