The Promise in the Stars

Section 1: The Light of the World

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I sat on my aunt’s back deck freshman year of high school and stared at the tar-colored sky dotted with light, like a blanket tucking in the earth at bedtime. The expanse invited me into something grander than algebra homework or daydreaming about my current crush. The heavens declare the glory of God—even to those who don’t know Jesus. Weeks later someone shared the gospel with me at a slumber party, and I believed. Marveling at the night sky prepared my heart for faith in the Creator.

God used the stars to birth faith in Abram, too. When God told Abram to look at the expanse and try to count the stars, He promised him, “Your offspring will be that numerous” (Genesis 15:5). Abram believed (v.6). 

Abram left everything he knew—his extended family, an assurance of wealth and place—to follow a voice that called him by name. Like a blindfolded trust-walk, Abram took step by step in the wilderness, moving forward in God’s plan for his life. When he started to question the journey, he simply needed to glance up to the stars to remember that the Creator could perform wonders and is mighty in power (Job 9:10, Psalm 147:5). The one who numbered the uncountable stars promised to make Abram into a great nation (Genesis 22:17–18). Could God not do it?

I wish God spoke to us so clearly like He directed Abram at times. Sometimes we feel unsure of God’s plans for us. We wander in our own wilderness, wondering how to move forward. I’ve been there—numerous times. Why is this so hard? God, when will you answer my prayers? 

Living by faith sometimes requires us to wait with expectation for the unseen. Abram waited in expectation for the land and offspring God promised, and he missed the full reality of these promised blessings this side of eternity (Hebrews 11:8–16). But he still believed God would complete it, that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky (Genesis 15:1–6).

Last year my family and I experienced unseen promises fulfilled. A job position we prayed about for three years finally opened for my husband. But in those three years of waiting? I whined. Grumbled. Even doubted God’s direction. Yet every time I threw a pity party for one, the Spirit reminded me to stand confident in what we hoped for (Hebrews 11:1). Are you sitting in your own dark night, unsure how things will all pan out? You’re not alone. Even Abram asked, “How can I know?” to the Lord of the universe when he wanted assurance that everything would work out just right (Genesis 15:8).

Maybe a life of faith is about putting our hope and trust in God alone. Maybe we all need to look up to the stars and remember God is at work. The One who made the Orion, the Bear constellation, and more is in control of the constellation of our lives.