Love Lines From God: Seeing Beyond the Present

Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead. Hebrews 11:19 NLT

Sam couldn’t see beyond the present, and it almost cost him his happiness—and life. His dad had left the family for another woman when Sam was a small child. Now, ten years later, his mom decides to re-marry. The guy is okay, but Sam cannot focus on anything but his real dad.

All these years, Sam’s dreamed and imagined that his mom and dad might get back together. Her present marriage seals the coffin. Not only is she marrying, but he and his siblings will be moving to another state with a different culture. New school, new church, new friends.

Sam doesn’t adjust well. He needs something to help him get through. When one of his new “so-called” friends offers him a pill to help him do just that, he takes one. And later, another. One day, he takes too many and finds himself in the hospital. He just couldn’t see beyond the present—and the picture was murky.

By faith, Abraham had the ability to see beyond the present. He and his wife had waited for years on the promised son God said would arrive. Now Isaac is a young man, and God is asking Abraham to do the unthinkable: sacrifice his son. Abraham knew God’s promise, however, and could see beyond the untenable moment.

I’m often more like Sam than Abraham. Life’s troubles bottle up and cloud my vision: finances, relationships, employment, kids, friendships. Life seems to require every bit of energy I have just to get through the day. I’m consumed with fighting daily battles and worrying about how it will all pan out tomorrow.

Only by a confident faith and trust in God’s guidance over my life in the present and his concern for my future can I see beyond today. By faith, I can let him hold tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day.

Let God help you see beyond your present struggles.

Prayer: Father, give us faith to trust You for the future we cannot see.