When You Are in Sorrow

Abraham is known for his obedience, faith, and trust in God. When God called Abraham (or Abram) to leave his homeland, he obeyed. It took a lot of trust for Abraham to leave his native land, not knowing where he was to go (Hebrews 11:8). He left his father’s house and relatives and went with his wife, Sarah (or Sarai), to Canaan. This was a point of strength in Abraham’s walk with God.

However, in another incident, Abraham seemed to lose his faith and trust in God. When there was a famine in the land of Canaan, it was a time of danger and uncertainty. Abraham decided to go to Egypt, and he told Sarah to lie—to say that she was not his wife. Abraham was afraid the Egyptians would kill him and take Sarah, since she was a beautiful woman. So Sarah was taken into Pharaoh’s palace. This was a point of weakness in Abraham’s walk with God, as he failed to trust God to protect him and Sarah.

So we see a man who once walked with God in obedience, faith, and trust, now relying on his own strength and wisdom. He wasn’t relying on the God who had promised to bless him. But God remained faithful. He rescued them by inflicting diseases on Pharaoh and his household. And God continued to keep His promises.

In our own walk with God, there are times when our faith in God seems so robust that we can trust and obey Him in whatever He tells us to do. But, at other times, we are filled with fear. Especially in times of danger and uncertainty, we might doubt that God is really good and trustworthy. When we stop relying on God, we fall into sin—saying and doing things that go against God’s good ways. But even when we mess up, God remains faithful to us.

When we are afraid, we can turn to Jesus. His love for us is sure. Before He went to the cross, He said, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid†(John 14:27). We can rely on Jesus to keep His promises. He rose from the dead— defeating sin and death once and for all—and when He returns, we will live with Him forever. Until then, He gives us the Holy Spirit, who helps us learn to trust Him even in times of uncertainty. • Enid Adah Nyinomujuni

• Even if we mess up, we are not failures. How might Abraham’s story give you hope?

• When it’s hard to trust God, who are fellow Christians who can encourage and pray with you?

If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful. 2 Timothy 2:13a (NLT)

Read Verses:

Ps.34.18|Ps.73.26|2Cor.1.3-2Cor.1.4|Ps.71.20-Ps.71.21