Wall

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Romans 4:18-22, NIV

Against all hope, in hope he believed…. We’ve all hit those dead ends, those brick walls that leave no cranny and unlike mountains cannot even seemingly be scaled. No sherpas exist for this problem. Will our faith stand? Will it weaken, tremble before the rough red, immovable barrier that only cuts pounding fists?

Abraham was strengthened in his faith--granted, I cannot read the Greek. Yet the NIV and many other translations make it a passive. Who strengthened his faith? “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chron. 16:9). “It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace” (Heb. 13:9). You and I, we have the same God as Abraham. Our God is just as for us. Abba, Father, we look to you for that same strength.

Abraham was fully persuaded--how was he persuaded? No Scriptures. How many other believers did he encounter, having come from a seemingly pagan background and wandering as a stranger and alien? It must have been the Spirit himself and God’s own convincing testimony. We have no less a powerful Spirit: “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out  into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Rom. 5:5). The one who knows the inmost being of God, who is God of very God, the Spirit himself, will persuade us. Who can best teach us and persuade us but the one who knows God? And such a teacher we have been given.

Before brick walls, our faith can stand, grow, and be strengthened as we are fully persuaded: We have the same God, rich in mercy. The Author of Faith (Heb. 12:3), he alone can do it. “And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand” (Rom. 14:4). Amen. This is our hope.