Chapter 3: 8
Frustration and its treatment (2)
God has treated Sarah by two other points and He could do that to us, as well, when we face frustration and failure in our life.
Second: God sends Hagar away and solves the problem
Many times, due to our weakened faith, we try ourselves to solve the problem so we fall in a deeper one. That was Sarah’s mistake when she married Abraham to Hagar and resulted out in her feeling of inferiority, she tried to solve this new problem by humiliating Hagar.
However, when Hagar fled, God returned her and told her to come back and submit. It wasn’t God’s way and time to solve the problem. But when the right time came, God asked Abraham to obey all what Sarah says to him because Abraham refused to send Hagar away with Ishmael but God has supported Sarah’s decision in this respect.
Dear Reader, If you have already taken a wrong decision in your life and you are still suffering from its consequences, do not try to solve the problem by your own for you will be involved in a bigger problem.
If you have married a non-believer, do not endeavor solve it by divorce or separation. If you are facing some problems at work or with the family or even in your spiritual life and service, don’t run and rush for quick human solutions but pray to the Lord to solve it for you in his own way and time. Come to Him and trust that He is able to solve your problem. He can get you out of it the problem, when you think it is so difficult with no way out. “From the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death” ( Psalm 68:20)
When you put your problem before God, trust he will definitely settle the matter; and wait calmly for his deliverance. Remember what Naomi said to Ruth after she met Boaz and has put her problem before him: "Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today." (Ruth 3:18)
Dear Reader, calm down for God will not rest until he settles the matter for you.
Third: God fulfills His promise to Sarah and gives Isaac
How great is our God, He never forgets his promises to us, He definitely fulfills them all. That is what He did to Sarah, He gave her Isaac, as He promised and in the right time he scheduled for her. “Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him”(Genesis 21:1,2)
Dear reader, Trust that God will fulfill his promise as He said even if it looks Long Wait. For Sarah and Abraham waited 25 years to have the son of promise, Isaac. Therefore, hold on to the promise and never surrender to your feelings of sorrow and frustration. Believe that weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. There is never a temptation that God leaves without a way out. He will fulfill his promise to rejoice the heart, giving Isaac (which means laughter). Sarah said after God gave her Isaac: "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me” (Genesis 21:6).
God will rejoice your heart with his salvation, also the hearts of those around you when they see God’s great dealings with you; thus your life will be a testimonial for them. "Then it was said among the nations: The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy” (Psalm 126:2-3)
At last, Sarah laughed real laughs from the heart, different from the previous laughs of frustration. For God will wipe away tears from frustration and fills us up with rejoice of hope and we will sing with the singer saying: "You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy” (Psalm 30:11).
Magdy Samuel