Audacious FaithSample

Abraham’s Audacious Faith

Have you ever been asked to do something so outrageous, but you stepped into faith and something miraculous happened? In Genesis 22, God asked Abraham to do something so outrageous, and Abraham did it with audacious faith. He told Abraham to take his only son, Isaac, and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains. The next morning Abraham got up early, got the donkey ready, and firewood. Then they were off for a three-day journey. Then they traveled a little farther, and Isaac asked his dad, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering.” “God will provide the sheep for the offering.” Abraham already had audacious faith knowing that God was going to provide for him If he did exactly what God had told him He would provide. Abraham built the altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he laid his son on the altar and raised his knife; right then an angel of the Lord called out ”Abraham! Abraham!’ “Here I am.” He spoke. “Don’t lay a hand on the boy. Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God.” Just then he looked up and saw a ram caught by his thorns in the bush.

Abraham and Isaac are walking up one side of the mountain while the ram is being led up the other. Abraham was walking in audacious faith even when the situation looked hopeless. God was leading a ram up the other side of the mountain. As Abraham was stepping towards God in obedience God was coming to Abraham with provision and love. When we put our faith in Christ, God himself will protect, provide, and care for us. (Philippians 4:19) God always provides for his children, but it may not be the way we expect it to be. The challenge for us is to see his provision even when it looks different than what we expected.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the Lord. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9. These verses are powerful. God’s plans are not always what we want, but they are always better. I had my dream job; I loved everyone I worked with; I loved the kids. I worked at my favorite place to be, and all my kids went to school there. A week before school started, I got let go because of classroom size, but God took one of the hardest times of my life and turned it for good. Now I am going to college which has been paid for every single month when it is due, and I'm growing so much in my walk with Christ, learning so much, and I have made amazing friends.

This is exactly where I need to be right now. When you pray bold prayers and have audacious faith God will lead you and provide everything you need. Don’t be afraid to trust in the Lord when it doesn’t make sense. Faith does its greatest work in the face of your biggest adversity. Step out with your audacious faith and your bold prayers and trust God to do something miraculous.

Prayer:

God, help me to trust you when things don’t make sense. Send me the peace and reassurance that you have everything under control. God, help me to take my thoughts captive and turn them into audacious faith. Thank you for being Jehovah Jireh.