Over the years, I’ve tried my best to treat my promises with care. There’s nothing quite like the pain of an unmet promise.
A friend who never calls after she promises she will text to get together.
A canceled family trip you had planned after guaranteeing much needed fun.
Waiting for a job offer that you were assured was yours.
And then there are those hopes that require us to trust God is working all things out for good. Those awaited promises are a bit gray, and we could spend a lifetime discerning the difference between the things we think we deserve and what God sees for our good.
Abraham and Sarah were also stuck in an anticipated promise. God said to Abraham, “I will make you into a great nation….I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you (Genesis 12:2–3).
I wonder if Abraham and Sarah stayed up some nights, plotting and dreaming how God was going to use them for such a great purpose. Maybe they thought it would be only a few months, a year at the most, to see what God would do next. Their story required many, many years before God acted.
Are you feeling stuck in an anticipated promise? There are seasons of waiting for the “next thing” to happen for all of us. All of Advent calls us to a discipline of practicing and remembering a long-awaited promise: the birth of our Savior.
It’s easy to look back and see how God answered. It is more difficult when we are in the middle of unmet promises. We know that Sarah would give birth to a baby (Genesis 21) who would create a legacy of families and ultimately the family line of Jesus. But when Abraham and Sarah were in the waiting, the thing they needed the most was faith.
We need faith while we wait on the Lord. We need faith when things don’t go the way we expected. We need faith when our timeline doesn’t match up to God’s timeline.
Those who have faith, these are Abraham’s sons….Consequently, those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith.
—Galatians 3:7,9
And our faith rests on the covenantal promise given to Abraham: All nations will receive a restored relationship with God through Jesus. Abraham and Sarah had no idea what God was going to do, but they trusted Him and had faith. In the same way, we can remember how God is faithful to His promises and celebrate His faithfulness in this Advent season.
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160 thoughts on "All Nations Will Be Blessed"
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How true this statement is: “Those awaited promises are a bit gray, and we could spend a lifetime discerning the difference between the things we think we deserve and what God sees for our good.” He will work everything out for the good, but in His timing.
Patience. Waiting without speaking. Trusting that God’s plan and timing is always perfect.
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Can’t help but think of the verse that without faith, it is impossible to please God.
Amen!
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May I be slow to angry in Gods plan and timing. May I have more faith in Him to provide for me and my family.
God is so good in all seasons…. Even when the storm rages.
Today’s reading is reminding me to stay expectant of God’s fulfillment of his promises, while letting go of my expectations of how he will do it.
I love this. Such a beautiful reminder that Abraham was blessed because of his faith and therein he reinvented our destiny. Thank you for being the blessing that would carry the One into the world Abe.
God is good in every situation. This is my daily meditation in the season of unmet promises. What a consolation it is!
Also catching up after holiday travels.
What God has taught me over the decades is that waiting is to be an “active” waiting. He has taught me (& still teaching me) to be obedient to what He has shown me to do while I wait. Don’t allow myself to get stuck in the waiting. And live in an attitude of gratitude – focused on what He is doing around me rather than focusing on what I am waiting for Him to do. It’s a big act of trust!
Those are very helpful words for me today — thank you ♥️
I copied that down into my journal. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
What a good reminder of how to wait. Thank you
Love this, thank you for sharing ❤️
Man oh man did I need this devotional in a way I didn’t even know. Thank you, SRT, for gifting us with your words & blessing our lives. We love you!!
Day late & a dollar short (as my grampa used to say ;))! But here’s what I have rolling around my brain…
First is just extreme, joyful gratitude that God made these promises to Abraham without human contingency. He said that he will keep faithful to his promise even if (and as we see later in Gen.– WHEN) Abe do not. It’s the picture of salvation. I’ve done nothing, I deserve nothing, I fall short even when I try– and yet? I remain sealed in Jesus, legally held in place as an heir in his kingdom. It’s honestly mind-boggling that he is, and always has been, so so so good.
Second, and this is something I’ve been coming to terms with for a few years now, is how often we assign the word “promise” to things we are simply not promised and create definitions for how that “promise” will be carried out. Easiest go-to is Jeremiah 29:11. God in fact DID know the plans he had for Jeremiah and his people, and it WAS to bring them a hope and a future. However, it was lived out in real time in exile, constant threats of death, Jeremiah turned out of the temple for demanding the people of God start acting like the people of God… those were God’s plan that he spoke of. The prophet died while still in exile and never saw the fulfillment of that promise of “hope and future” — although he was directly involved in how that promise comes to fruition. The reason I believe it is of the highest importance to allow God to bring in his own definitions is because otherwise we start claiming God was unfaithful to bring about events that he never promised us in the first place. It’s why I believe our faith can become so shaken when tragedy hits because we have unintentionally placed our faith in the receiving of “that thing/event” and not in God, himself. Hebrews 11 reads so encouragingly because there is a list of people who believed God for his true promise AND at the same time, didn’t hang their faith on if they would ever experience the actual promise. Their faith was in God alone and who he said he was, and it was lived out in their actions and devotion regardless of seeing the promise or not.
Scripture is filled with so many amazing, undeserved promises to us– and promises to those ancient believers before us that we are so blessed to read and learn about. I mean, Christmas is a celebration of that very thing — an awaited fulfilment of a promise that hundreds of thousands of early believers never had the chance to see.
While it is still difficult, I have begun in the last few years of taking a straight, clear look at things in my life that I believe, for some reason, God promised would be different. It is a tough thing to look at and deconstruct beliefs that need reconstruction to strengthen the foundations of my faith, but nothing is more freeing because it allows me to see God in all his own glory and greatness, and it removes all the additives I think I need in order to be able to call him “great”. It goes back to that realization that if God sincerely never does another thing “for me” in my lifetime, he’s already done more than I could have dreamed of or even known to ask for. He’s just GOOD all on his own. :)
I’m also a day late and a dollar short (as my parents say!). Thank you for these insights/reminders!!
Faith requires movement-God’s promises often activate after obedience. I’ve been stuck in the same place for over 5 years now and got too comfortable and now I’ve been afraid to step out of my comfort zone but i need to take that leap of faith. I trust the Lord and I’m moving by faith. <3
❤️ I often get caught up in the “what step? Which movement?…” but you’re right — just get moving on what you KNOW is obedience, no matter how small, and he will do incredible things with it :)
God is faithful to His promises. Amen!
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto me.
Thank you Jesus!
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto me.
Today’s reading reminded me of one of my favourite songs by Hillsong
“Clinging for life to all your promise, hanging on every word that you’ve spoken. My souls will hang on every word you say.
Enduring faith is what today’s message reminded me of… Keep remembering and celebrating God’s faithfulness
Amen
❤️ trusting in ALL things ♥️
Today reminded me that faith means trusting God even when the timeline makes no sense. Abraham couldn’t see the whole story, but he believed, and through Jesus, we share in that same promise. Advent helps me rest in God’s faithfulness ❤️
I needed this reminder today.
Waiting is incredibly hard. But in this current season of waiting, I’ve realized something unexpected — it has brought me back to the Lord. I had wandered from Him for a long time, but He never stopped pursuing me. I’m so grateful that He came to find His lost sheep.
I’ve been waiting seven years for a child, and while the wait has been painful, it has also transformed me. Through it, I’ve found my way back to my faith and back to Him. Even in the uncertainty, I can feel that He is guiding me, strengthening me, and drawing me closer.
Katie….thank you for sharing and we’re glad you’re here. I’m so sorry that you have endured such painful waiting. May the Lord’s presence and strength continue to carry you. I have prayed for you❤️
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Thank you lord for this reminder. Faith is hard when looking forward to promises. But Abraham waited in faith for 25 years. AMEN. It’s a much needed reminder of His timeline not mine.
This devotional was very eye opening.
I can’t comment – so annoying! But wanted to respond to DANI. I hear you about learning to rest and not feeling the need to accomplish, do, strive, etc… I have been so tired and the cold and dark just make me want to curl up on the couch and not leave. I have a meeting tonight at the church and your comment released me from the “I have to go” thinking.I don’t! God knows I need the rest. Thank you sister!
I loved all of your comments and Bailey’s devotional! What struck me was being stuck in an “anticipated promise”. On this journey over the past few years with my daughter, I have been in the waiting (and still am) of God’s promises for her given to my husband in several visions. So many times I have cried out to the Lord, but you said…! But you confirmed…! And then, did we hear you right? (Did God really say…?) But as I sit here I can say that although the waiting is hard, I can see the blessing of it. There has been a lot of growth, for both her and me. Like Mercy wrote, “Is God forgetting His promises? Absolutely not. It’s preparation. Painful preparation. Faith in silence. Trust in God.” I have had to learn to surrender my daughter to the Lord and trust that the promises he gave us will come to pass. It was the only way I found to not drown in the heaviness of it all. I know he has supported me and held me up this entire time.
Help me to have faith when God’s plans don’t look like how I expected them to. <3
I want to trust in faith that God will give me everything that I need. I pray that I can trust him satisfy my heart’s longing. ❤️
It surely isn’t easy to wait. Especially when we are in difficult seasons. I love the reminder today that because of Abraham‘s faith in the waiting he received a blessing that has passed on to us. This song by John Waller came to mind:
I’m waiting, I’m waiting on You Lord
And I am hopeful, I’m waiting on You Lord
Though it is painful, but patiently I will wait
And I will move ahead bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I’m waiting I will serve You
While I’m waiting I will worship
While I’m waiting I will not faint
I’ll be running the race even while I wait
I’m waiting, I’m waiting on You Lord
And I am peaceful, I’m waiting on You Lord
Though it’s not easy no, but faithfully I will wait
Yes, I will wait
And I will move ahead bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I’m waiting I will serve You
While I’m waiting I will worship
While I’m waiting I will not faint
I’ll be running the race even while I wait
I will move ahead bold and confident
I’ll be taking every step in obedience, yeah
While I’m waiting I will serve You
While I’m waiting I will worship
While I’m waiting I will not faint
And I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting on You Lord
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
Amen. Thank you for the song recommendation
I love this song Tricia!
I am so not good at waiting. Every year (when we got to the letter W!… It took so long to get there!!), we would read a book in preschool by Mo Willems called, “Waiting Is Not Easy”. Two of my little girls in class repeated that phrase/title a lot. I totally agreed with them. ❤️
Cute!
Abraham & Sarah waited 25 years for a son. I can hardly wait 5 minutes for stuff! Lord, help me slow down & as one SRT sister said, stop racing towards the next thing. Faithfulness can look like standing still. Giving it a rest.
Great is thy faithfulness, forgiveness and love oh my Father!
Waiting, faith, hope, rest…when the people pleasing tendency in me is screaming “I have to accomplish something, I need to perform, I need to do so that others will be pleased and not disappointed in me.” And yet here I am, I’ve been made new! I worship God, not the approval of people. The challenge this season is to listen for God’s voice and to be still and know He is God. Not to take action unless He is calling me too. We all need this time for growth and healing. He calls us to a season of rest when He knows it’s what we need. Lord knows I need to continue to heal and learn how to be in peace in all circumstances and to be anxious for nothing. So I’m fighting the old habits to strive and instead thankful that He knows what is best and has a purpose for the seasons of waiting. These seasons are when I seem to grow in my faith the most. I think it’s because during these seasons I sit more with Jesus and get to know Him. It makes me stronger for when God’s calling me and I’m following Him!
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” Hebrews 11:1. “For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently” Romans 8:24-25. “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Matthew 21:21-22). “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18). “But by faith we EAGERLY await through the Spirit the hope of righteousness” (Galatians 5:5).
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So last week at our church advent dinner for women, I got to hear a great message on waiting. Waiting and waiting. And the story was on Simeon, the one who eagerly waited. “At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him” (Luke 2:25). I remember the painting by Ron DiCianni suggested by so many shes of Simeon holding baby Jesus, and I could not forget the facial expression of Simeon in that painting. There have been many other paintings depicting this moment, but that one really stood out for the conveying such deep joy, a relief, possibly tears, from a lifetime of waiting for the baby (the Gift of God onto the world at Christmas). Simeon was very old, perhaps over 80 years old, or 100 years old even. Simeon kept the faith that “he would not see death before seeing the Lord’s Messiah”. And his prayer, “Now You may dismiss Your servant in peace” (Luke 2:29) implies his waiting season could possibly be his whole life. The way that Simeon waited matters, he waited eagerly, not resentfully, or with bitterness. Trusting. Watchful. Yielded. What does God do to us in seemingly endless season of waiting? Deep heart work. He grows patience, deepens our humility and dependence on Him, teaches us faith without sight, obedience without knowing all. I looked back on the Bible and saw many great examples of waiting. Moses waited 40 years wandering in wilderness before his calling at 80 years old. Abraham and Sarah waited for the promised son (just to be called to sacrifice him later… for a test!). Zechariah and Elizabeth waited into old age for John the Baptist to be born. Anna the prophetess waited her entire life, she was widowed after only 7 years of marriage and lived to be 84 in the temple. The Israelites waited 400 years for deliverance and suffered slavery in Egypt. David waited 15+ years to become king after being anointed as a teenager. Joseph waited through injustice 13 years from betrayal to fulfilment. Is waiting punishment? Absolutely not! Is God forgetting His promises? Absolutely not. It’s preparation. Painful preparation. Faith in silence. Trust in God through disappointment. Why? Some promises are so important, some callings are so weighty that God takes His careful time to shape the person who will carry them. Because God’s calling often comes with much social pressure, spiritual weight, fierce persecution, responsibility and influence. If God doesn’t shape our character by delaying the process, bringing trials, the promise can overwhelm us, tempt us and inflate us. And satan will come in with his slithering of soft whispers addressing unmet wants (thank you SEARCHING❤️) and unmet needs, unmet desires and expectations (as we discussed at length yesterday). And a weak heart will be a great landing pad for satan to steer anyone astray.
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Thank you shes so much for your prayers. Our house is currently freezing (we are in Elsa land). I have some small electric heaters to keep up. We tried to get at least more than three quotes so companies will come. My husband is trying to accommodate that, and write his papers (despite ADHD distractions), I really need your prayers that he can pass this course, and God’s provision for this unexpected bill before Christmas. I will proof read his papers too and I feel overwhelmed. Thank you shes for your covering prayers. So grateful from the bottom of my heart. Be blessed dear sisters.
Dearest MERCY.. continued prayers for the heating to get sorted and for your husbands studying to not be hindered by this setback of no heating..
Mercy, sending you some warming love and hugs..♥️
Mercy, your insight is a blessing to me. Thank you for sharing. I am praying for the heat situation and your husband‘s paper situation. I am praying for you to know God‘s presence and peace in the waiting. Blessings to you, dear sister.
This is so good Mercy. We talked about the waiting in jail ministry today, and I referenced some of these examples. We have expectant hope in Jesus, believing the promises God has given us, to fortify us and strengthen us in the wait! I copied your comment to save! (I have lots of Mercy insights saved!) Prayers for you.
Definitely deep heart work is going on for me. I appreciate this Sister She Mercy. ❤️ needed this reminder today.
Prayers for all that is happening in your life right now. How blessed we She’s are that even now, in these difficulties and time constraints, you are taking time to share so much for our benefit. Blessings to you!!
Having Faith in the waiting is such a challenge ! Loved the thought of how Sarah and Abraham were most likely dream of how God would us them, easy to forget the humans in the story. Definitely the reminder I needed today
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Praying that I may find a way to bless others as I have been so blessed by God!
This passage was exactly what my heart needed this morning. The Lord reminded me that without Abraham’s faith, there would be no Isaac. There would be no blessing of Jesus through the Israelites. No blessing to the Gentiles. The faith of one man changed everything! May it be so in my life, too, that my faith would not waver and that I would see God do immeasurably more than all I am asking Him for. To Him be the glory!
Amen! ❤️
What a great reminder that God’s timing is so different than our timing. I was thinking how many times I fee I have to “help” God to get it done. I often wonder if I missed his help. Sarah waited over 20 years before she had Issac. Patience is a virtue I need help with so I remind myself HIS TIMING is perfect – wait.
During this season of Advent, may we remember God’s past faithfulness but also celebrate that He is a God of His word. He will bring every promise to fulfillment. Amen!
Amen.♥️
A question in my advent study guide reminded me that a promise of “Access to” and “Relationship” with God was announced in the passages we read today. That promise was fulfilled in Christ Jesus and we are living in it today. What a Great God we serve and love ❤️
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What beautiful comments! Songs shared, honesty, and prayers!
Waiting is hard! But while we wait we can be grateful for God’s faithfulness in the past! We can actively wait by serving others or whatever God gives us to do! But we can know that God is always faithful!
Prayers for all! Have a blessed day!
Waiting is hard. True.. But God has been waiting much longer than we have for our hearts to see Him for who He is.. ♥️
“At the appointed time”. (Gen 21:2).
What a great sentence! Full of promise… hope…and fulfillment.
This devotional made me have a thought. just because my understanding of what God promised me is not correct, doesn’t mean He didn’t promise it or fulfill it or will fulfill it.
And also my incorrect daydreaming of its meaning doesn’t mean God is now going to remove the promise. He doesn’t require me understanding to fulfill His promises.
Sometimes my disappointment about a promise I believe God made is because I didn’t understand the promise.
Thankful God doesn’t not need my understanding of what he’s doing to fulfill His promises!
Mollie,your comment reminded me of a line spoken by Jesus in
The Chosen “I don’t need you to have understanding to do great things” Going without knowing is one of the hardest things we are asked to do as Christ
followers because it requires
faith.I used to ask Jesus to
increase my faith until He
reminded me that it only takes
faith the size of a mustard seed! How reassuring to know that He can take my little bit
of faith and accomplish
big things in my life! Our God is faithful!
I’m not a very good “waiter.” My patience is often lacking. Today’s reflection is a great reminder that God is worth the wait. His plans are perfect…in His timing. My timing can create unnecessary complications. Lord, I’ll wait for you.
….we can remember how God is faithful to His promises and celebrate His faithfulness in this Advent season. Thank you for the this reminder and confirmation Bailey. It was exactly my thoughts this morning as I wrote in the devotional book.
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Romans 4:13 – For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Sometimes the wait feels like an unanswered prayer and it’s good to be reminded the wait is the wait and we can come to Him over and over again for comfort as we wait.
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I got cut off, haha. What I was saying is somedays I’m desperately waiting for God to come through on his promise and my prayer is to sustain me in the wait. It occurred to me that of course he would sustain me if the wait is from Him. This gives me so much hope and encouragement. Love this passage.
In reading these verses today I was reminded that Abraham’s committed obedience in waiting set an example for not only those right there with him, but for future generations. What if he hadn’t trusted the Lord? What if he hadn’t been obedient. What if my grandparents didn’t take my parents to church? What if my parents didn’t walk with Jesus? Where would I be? Where would my children be? Would my sweet baby grandson Jack have heard my voice on facetime last night telling him that Jesus loves him? The ripple effects of Abraham’s faithfulness has reached for generations, as does ours. Its a shuddering, sobering thought to think of how detrimental it would be if I do not press on in faith and chose to serve Jesus. No, there are mo guarantees that our faith “saves everything” or that things will go as we want. There is sorrow, sicknesses,sufferingprodigal children, job loss and hardship. But, there are countless reminders of God’s present, nearness and faithfulness as He works in our lives.
Bailey’s words were a good remindersnf great encouragement for my heart today. Thank you, Lord that we can wait in faithfulness, practice faithfulness knowing you are moving and at work and that you will carry us through.❤️
“We need faith while we wait on the Lord. We need faith when things don’t go the way we expected. We need faith when our timeline doesn’t match up to God’s timeline.
Also, thanks for all your insights and sharing SRT sisters. My reply isn’t working but praying for your requests ✝️
“We need faith while we wait on the Lord. We need faith when things don’t go the way we expected. We need faith when our timeline doesn’t match up to God’s timeline.”
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There have been Oh so many times that I have had to wait on the Lord as I’m sure each of us here can testify!
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One big wait was for my husband. I had been dating someone for 3 years, I fully expected that on every “special occasion” he would pop the question. But he never did – instead, he asked someone else to marry him. My heart was broken into a million pieces, I couldn’t understand why. But God…he had a plan that was so much better, better than I could have imagined! After a few years of “blind dates” God brought Jeff into my life when I least expected it – the rest is history!
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There were many times of waiting over our almost 40 years of marriage, and now we find ourselves in the “waiting room” again. Waiting on God for our future – as to what comes next after this ministry that we have been at for 32 years.
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I will try to be patient.
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I will try to wait without complaint.
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I will trust God for our future.
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Jesus never fails.
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He is faithful to a thousand generations!
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“In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” Psalm 5:3
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Happy Wednesday She’s – and a warm welcome to all who are new here! May each of us wait expectantly for God to answer each and every prayer – according to His will. ❤️
Sharon, my friend, God is in the waiting and He is preparing you for the next season.. He is faithful.. always..
Continued prayers for you both .
in the waiting. Love you..♥️
I have been in a long season of waiting, some days desperation
Rebekah Ham I pray God strengthens your faith in this period of waiting !
I love that statement of truth, when we are in the waiting we need the most faith! I truly can testify during the season of waiting it does draw me even closer to the Lord! Pressing into His word and my heart is so deeply committed to Him even more intentionally than when I’m not in the waiting! Being in a heart posture of being at His feet is really where I need to be all the time! The waiting is hard but as we read His promises are true.
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Jesus, be my peace.
“All of Advent calls us to a discipline of practicing and remembering a long-awaited promise: the birth of our Savior. . . . we can remember how God is faithful to His promises and celebrate His faithfulness in this Advent season.”
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Practice faith and remember God’s faithfulness.
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Wow, BAILEY T. HURLEY, thank you for this beautiful and encouraging re-telling.
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SONG SHARE: BY FAITH by Ben Fuller-
partial lyrics:
There ain’t no mountain ever move without it
Ain’t no wave ever laid down on no sea
Ain’t no tombstone ever rolled away
Nobody’s left an empty grave
Without the power, the power in Jesus’ name
Without the power, the power in Jesus’ name
And a restless heart that kept movin by faith
Movin, movin by faith
Movin, movin by faith
Movin by faith
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Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
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I feel as if most days of mine are a waiting season as a military spouse. Waiting for orders, waiting to move again, waiting during deployments, waiting to visit family again…BUT my faith has grown tremendously in this time of my life where I have no control, in this season of waiting I have nothing but time to fix my eyes on Jesus. I know God’s plan is bigger and better than I can ever imagine because He is faithful.
Thank you for your family’s service. May God bless you and keep you safe.
Thank you for your family’s service and sacrifices. May your advent season provide comfort.
Good morning, SHE’S! what a wonderful season of waiting we (that is my family) are in, as our youngest child is due to give birth early January! An eager anticipation of waiting to meet this little one being fashioned and formed in her womb! So it is that we are eagerly awaiting the return of our Lord! Going back and following the linage of Abraham and then the linage of Christ, not all were perfect and yet God fulfilled His promise! He is truly faithful! Faith, a gift from God to believe and now the joy of a life surrendered, imperfectly, yet so filled with hope, a hope that will not disappoint! Jesus is coming! Hallelujah!
Congratulations Norma! Such joy awaits you ❤️
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I’ve had many seasons of waiting in my life, but God has been so faithful. I am still learning to live in the present while anticipating His plan. Thank you, God, for being with us in it all.
Hello, SRT Sisters! I pray that this season is a blessing to you all. It is so hard but so necessary to wait, as we can see in our own lives and Abraham’s life. Not waiting for God’s promises can have disastrous results, but God’s way is perfect. He can be trusted. He is faithful to keep every promise He has made. As we hope and wait for what we cannot see, may we pray for faith and grace to trust Him more. Be blessed today, my friends!
Hello Stranger good to see you!
Colleen, it was SO GOOD seeing your name here again! Praying (as Tina often says) that life is treating you well these days. ❤
This was SO timely. For those struggling in their season of waiting, have been reading Slow Burn by Dawn Cheré Wilkerson, and that along with this study has been so inspiring!! May you all see the trustworthiness and faithfulness of the Lord in new and abundant ways today!
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He is faithful
By faith, by faith, by faith…all the men and women in the Faith chapter in Hebrews 11.
God just wants us to have faith during the wait; we know he is faithful. Thank you, Lord, for going before me and making a way. Thank you for preparing my steps and for being faithful to your word. My trust is in you and you alone. Amen
We are all “chosen” people!
“Salvation is of the Jews”, Jesus stated to the Samaritan woman in à 4:22.
God made provions to include every living breathing human being to partake of the blessing of Abraham through faith in Jesus!
We have to choose Him! He already chose us!
KRISTINE Demarco sings a song called “Take Courage” It’s not a Christmas song but it could be an Advent song.
Lyrics
Slow down, take time
Breath in He said
He’d reveal what’s to come
The thoughts in His mind
Always higher than mine
He’ll reveal all to come
Take courage my heart
Stay steadfast my soul
He’s in the waiting
He’s in the waiting
Hold onto your hope
As your triumph unfolds
He’s never failing
He’s never failing
Sing praise my soul
Find strength in joy
Let His Words lead you on
Do not forget His great faithfulness
He’ll finish all He’s begun
So take courage my heart
Stay steadfast my soul
He’s in the waiting
He’s in the waiting
Hold onto your hope
As your triumph unfolds
He’s never failing
He’s never failing
Take courage my heart
Stay steadfast my soul
He’s in the waiting
He’s in the waiting
Hold onto your hope
As your triumph unfolds
He’s never failing
He’s never failing
And You who hold the stars
Who call them each by name
Will surely keep, Your promise to me
That I will rise, in Your victory
And You who hold the stars
Who call them each by name
Will surely keep, Your promise to me
That I will rise, in Your victory!
So take courage my heart
Stay steadfast my soul
He’s in the waiting
He’s in the waiting
And hold onto your hope
Watch your triumph unfold
He’s never failing
He’s never failing
So take courage my heart
Stay steadfast my soul
He’s in the waiting
He’s in the waiting
And hold onto your hope
Watch your triumph unfold
He’s never failing
He’s never failing!
He’s in the waiting
He’s in the waiting
He’s in the waiting
He’s in the waiting
He’s in the waiting
He’s in the waiting
This song is a beautiful Advent song! Thanks so much for sharing!
Going to listen asap! ❤
Beautiful song! I just listened to it. Thank you for sharing. ❤️
Today’s reading was so timely. God has used the story of Abraham and Sarah to encourage me in so many waiting seasons over the years.
This year, I’ve felt God pulling me in a slightly different direction job-wise and have been praying and waiting for an opportunity. A few months ago, it seemed like there might be an opening in my organization for what I would describe as my dream job, but it never did happen. It was disappointing, but I believed that God would make His plan clear in time. I decided to stay in my current role, thinking maybe the dream job would become available next year.
Last week, out of the blue, I received an offer for a position that I never even expected. It’s not the role I wanted, but it’s one that several coworkers have said they could see me doing. However, it does require a lot more leadership and responsibility, which has me feeling hesitant.
I can’t help but wonder though if this is why God didn’t put me in the initial position that I was hoping for. Maybe He is pushing me towards something bigger than I even expected. The past few days have been nerve-wracking because I haven’t received a promised phone call with more information and an official offer, even though I said in last week’s call that I was open to doing it. Please pray for wisdom for me as I wait, and for me to trust God no matter what the outcome.
Kristi, praying that you get the call, and that through prayer, God provides clarity and discernment on whether this position is where He wants you to be.
Praying for you and this new opportunity Kristi !
Amen!
We trust You, Lord.
God, you give me peace in the waiting. I have faith that you work all things for good. Amen.
Amen❤️
:Abram was not called to wait idly by while God brought His word to pass. No, the very first words recorded of God speaking to Abram were God telling Abram to go. Likewise, while we wait for Jesus to return and bring to completion God’s plan for worldwide blessing, we are called to go. We are called to follow in the way of Jesus and to continue in the kind of life that He taught and lived—a life of love, grace, and peace. This is what waiting for God’s promise looks like: faithfully trusting in the Lord, walking in His ways as we go.”
— Collin Ross
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Amen, Collin
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MERCY – prayers for peace and wisdom as you and your husband navigate this busy season. May a furnace repair be done quickly and reasonably.
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MARGARET W and others who mentioned this – yes, 100%, the first humans were not cursed, but were punished to live in a world that would be in a cursed state.
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God please send peace and comfort in the slow times. That I may rest in the present and not always focus on what’s next, but appreciate the here and now. Amen.
Amen. The here and now. And let him allow us to have faith when things go wrong.
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SO grateful for this reminder today: “We need faith while we wait on the Lord. We need faith when things don’t go the way we expected. We need faith when our timeline doesn’t match up to God’s timeline.” Because God is always faithful and always right on time. Amen and Amen!
Amen ✝️
Lord, please give me faith in the waiting, the unexpected, and when your plans are different than mine.
Thankful for God’s promises and Abraham’s faith journey (not a perfect journey but still, God kept His promise).
Another reminder to not get ahead of God’s promise or plan, to quell my impatience with prayer.
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TINA ❤️
MERCY ❤️ praying for honest, skilled and fairly priced furnace repair/replacement and for space in your husband’s schedule to do all that is needed this week. Knowledge fueling pride – thank you, I had not put that together before. And satan entering through unmet needs – I would also include unmet wants, they can get the best of me.
HEIDI – impactful, thank you. “always consider who has advised me and why I’m taking their word over God’s” and “my downfall is still ONE decision away.” A little one said to me a few years ago (while being questioned about behavior) “I’m about to make another bad choice.” How many times are we totally aware of our choices and knowingly, intentionally make the wrong one? We may think we are prepared to deal with the consequences we can foresee, but the ripple effect is always unknown. Be on guard, sisters.
MIA FAITH ❤️ so good to see you!
MARIA J – praying for Bart and family
TAMI ❤️ thank you for sharing, “whatever negative you put on repeat ends in defeat”
CEE GEE ❤️
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That little one is SO SMART! Thanks for sharing that! ❤
There can be peace in the waiting, joy in the anticipation. We just need to hold on to our faith.
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I’m back to She Reads Truth after taking a little break to do a couple different studies with this Bible Study group in my town. Definitely in a season of waiting with my job, I interviewed for one and thought I was going to get the offer and then didn’t so today’s reading is a good reminder that God has something else in store for me and trust in him
Praying for the right job offer, God’s best ❤️
There can be so much frustration with these circumstances. I pray you find the right job!!
just prayed for you ❤️
Great to ‘see’ you, AG! Prayers for faith, trust, and patience in the wait! ❤
Amen ❤️
Amen
Thankful for God’s faithfulness in my own life.
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I have seen, over the years GOD at work. GOD moving. GOD keeping His promises. GOD making His move when all seemed lost.
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My friend after her divorce, waited 15 years for her now husband. She was in her mid 60s.
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My line manager and a good friend, left his home town and all he knew to move, obediently, hundreds of miles to my neck of the woods, for work, and met his now wife. Sometimes we have just got to take that leap of faith..
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My beautiful friend, in trusting obiedience, cancelled her wedding days before, and then waited 17 years for Mr right to come along. She was in her 40s and scarred that she may have missed the boat.. her future husband was in the congregation, (his first visit there),the day she did her last talk at our church because she was moving away to share Jesus with others in another town!
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God for sure heard the cries of another friend who kept saying she would be an old maid with no children.. Today she is happily married with two wonderful children.. she kept the faith, if only loosely..
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For me, I am in an ‘anticipated promise’ state. I know, in Lisa Harpers words..”He’s on his way, he’s just too proud to to ask for directions ”
That GOD has always had a plan for me, I don’t doubt it, He has my bestest interests at heart, not just in the days when my faith is strong, but also on those days when I feel that stirring that GOD has given up on me.
He does not give up or hold back on His promises!
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Here’s the thing.. i realised in writing this morning,
I AM BEING BLESSED WITH OR WITHOUT MY PRAYERS BEING ANSWERED. With or without Mr right.. GOD continues to bless my everyday.
THANK YOU, FATHER GOD. THANK YOU..
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ALL the nations (and people) will be blessed through you.. consequently, those who have faith, even mustard seed faith, are blessed..
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Holding firmly to this promised, I am not forgotten. I may struggle some days..
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BUT GOD..
He is a promise keeper. Always has been, Always will be..
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This Advent season is a reminder that He has kept His promises throughout..
HE IS FAITHFUL..
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ALWAYS.
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AMEN.
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Happy Blessed Wednesday my dears.. Keep the faith. He moves..
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Much love and hugs..
Tina ❤️
Amen, blessed regardless of the answer to prayers…yes, no, not yet. We are so blessed by you, sister ❤️
It is like we want God to respond as if He is a microwave but His responses are often more like He is a crockpot.
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Does that even make sense? :->
Love this Kelly (NEO) – a great analogy for me ❤️
Yes Kelly (NEO) it does make sense in a very relatable way! Thank you!
Absolutely!!
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Tina- I do have you on my prayer list for Mr Right to come along. I believe the Lord will send him when the time is right- just like you said!
Well said, Tina. And thank you for the reminder:
I AM BEING BLESSED WITH OR WITHOUT MY PRAYERS BEING ANSWERED…GOD continues to bless my everyday.
THANK YOU, FATHER GOD. THANK YOU..
I love this!!! And sometimes we are blessed by God NOT answering our prayers. He has the plan for our lives and if he answered our prayers the way we think they should go, we could be way off!!!
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❤️ amen to “keep the faith”, and thank you so much for all the wonderful testimonies. Much love.
Amen and Amen.
Hopeful and with faith in the waiting. ❤️
Amen❤️❤️