Staying On Track

Faith is not intended to bring our dreams into reality. “Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?” (Lam. 3:37) But even when God has given us a vision and promise, He must make it happen, or we will end up tending with more problems than we can imagine. Ishmael’s existence remains an eternal object lesson of what happens when faith and patience don’t coincide. We are called to be “followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Heb. 6:12)

Faith is tested in a weary land. We’re tempted to settle for something that looks like what we’re after. We can presumptuously claim it’s good or close enough. But the seal on the sure foundation that God sets is: “they shall NOT make haste.” (Isa. 28:16) The anxious spirit that was at work in Sara must be rebuked. Patience must be allowed to have her perfect work, not only for the perfecting work being done in our heart, but so we might behold our blessed Isaac, and not a scorning Ishmael.

In the long run, when our hands would hang down and our knees would grow feeble, will we turn aside to a lie, or continue looking to Jesus as the foundation of our life? His faith, obedience, and patience are the keys required to see our God-inspired visions come to pass. “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it …” (Ps. 127:1)

We give power to God when we leave Him in charge, letting Him be the architect of our life and the fulfiller of our dreams. To do otherwise is always a cause of regret and shame. Faith without works is dead; but faith without patience is derailed and ends up in a ditch.

Cherish patience – it is the ground of all virtue and the guarantor of all blessing; it will keep you on God’s track toward every good thing.