Today’s author is Prince of Peace member, Suzan Hurlbut.
The reading that we have this Sunday is based on the story of Sarah and Abraham who had prayed for a child of their own for years and years. God came to them and told them their prayers were answered and Sarah would become pregnant with a child. Sarah and Abraham believed (they laughed but they believed). They then had to wait, wait on God to answer.
I don’t know about you but when I pray sometimes I’m kind of afraid to really believe that God is faithful and does answer prayer. I have had my share of hard things in my life and family. Many losses that I didn’t understand and prayed for a different outcome. When I was pregnant with my middle daughter Sarah she was a twin and the last minute Jennifer the other twin died right before they were born. I had prayed and prayed for my babies and then came the loss and grief. We lost several other babies after that also.
What to do when it seems like God doesn’t answer? Or when we are waiting and it seems like there will not be a answer. I have realized that God suffers with us and we are not promised there will not be suffering. It happens to us all. God hasn’t left us although it feels like it.
Sometimes when I read back in my journal for all the things I have prayed for or worried about and given to the Lord I get surprised that most of them have worked out. But of course still I worry.
The working preacher website reminds us that this story of the Lord answering Sarah and Abraham shows God…being God. God’s character is to keep promises, to turn darkness into light, to change mourning into dancing, tears into joy.
When I let myself open up to that wonder and believe in his character I do experience that grace. I might laugh a little like Sarah but still believe