Dear Lizzie Mae,

Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring--not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all." -- Romans 4:16

The promise (of a relationship with God and all the benefits and blessings that brings) comes by faith. "So that it may be by grace . . . Grace guarantees the existence, the ontology, the BE-ing of the promise. This involves the integrity of God. Grace and the promise it brings springs from the very essence and Character of God.

Some of us have at times felt that God is a great Maker of promises, but erratic in keeping them. Job felt this way. David felt this way. Jesus himself felt this way on the cross. I must confess, I have felt this way, too.

As a counselor I have seen many patients struggle with this. So many that they flood my memories in a blur. Hundreds of them. Thousands of hours in therapy. I no longer see clients professionally or in a clinical setting, and it amazes me that I could listen to so much pain over so many years. A few stand out.

I have tried to help people through the worst human traumas imaginable. But I can't shake the shock I felt when a woman honestly declared to me, "I am so tired of the promises of God." Her face buried in her hands. Her shoulders heaving sobs. My shock had nothing to do with disagreement; it had to do with an unexpected invasion of privacy. In her pain she had pierced my own soul.

Have we not all, at least in some measure, felt this enormous sense of disillusionment? Few of us have the awesome faith of Abraham who would have slain his own son for his profound belief that " . . . in Isaac shall thy seed be called." I could not have, would not have, even entertained such a thought no matter the promise of God. In this I almost resent Abraham's faith in God's promise and I resent God for testing it.

Yet we are dealing with the integrity of God here. Abraham knew that. He said, "God will provide for himself a sacrifice." You see, we are dealing with two sides of a promise. One side, where the promise remains unfulfilled. This side where we are called upon to believe in the integrity of the One who gave the promise. And the other side -- God's side -- where we actually receive fulfilment. Where we actually seize the ram in the thicket. Sometimes trust is a painful thing.

-- PDM

Home