"And He (God) took him outside and said, 'Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.' And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." Then Abram believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness."
Genesis 15:5-6
You're a Christian refugee living in a tent somewhere in Ukraine.
Some time has passed since you fled with nothing but the clothes on your back. You know that God's Word speaks of all circumstances being used by God for His good, but life right now feels pretty hopeless.
Do you still believe?
Your life may not mirror that of a refugee, but we're all too familiar with doubt. Maybe a sudden job loss, a health crisis, or a relationship falling apart shakes our sense of security. It shakes our faith. No matter your story – you're not alone.
Even Abraham, the father of our faith, struggled with doubt.
God had promised to build a great nation from Abraham's lineage. But, at 85 years old, Abraham was still childless. Fathering a great nation is hard if your family line ends with you. Abraham wanted to hold onto God's promises, but his faith was wavering.
So, God took Abraham stargazing. Walking out into the Middle Eastern night, with nothing anywhere in sight, Abraham saw millions and millions of stars, and God told him, "Your descendants are going to be more than these."
Amid great doubt, God gently reminded Abraham of His promise. Today, we know how God fulfilled that promise as Abraham's lineage grew, eventually to include the nation of Israel and, finally, Christ himself. Yet, because of God's reassurance, Abraham chose to believe.
God's Word says that we are made righteous through faith in Christ alone. It's choosing to hold onto God's promises in the calm and in the chaos.
Are you struggling with doubt? Has a crisis caused your faith to waver? Look at the stars. Remember Abraham's faith and cling to God's promises in your life.
When your faith falters, go stargazing!
