Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of LifeSample

We are often tempted to try by human effort to accomplish what only God can do.

When you yell at your children, thinking strong language and increased volume will change their hearts, you are trying to do by human effort what only God can do.

When you have been hurt by your spouse and you punish with the silent treatment, you are trying to do by human effort what only God can do. When you deal with your sin by programs of self-reformation instead of crying out for rescue and empowering grace, you are trying to do by human effort what only God can do.

When you force open doors of ministry instead of trusting the guidance of your Lord, you are trying to do by human effort what only God can do.

When you impatiently pound people with the gospel instead of letting the Holy Spirit work in their hearts, you are trying by human effort to do what only God can do.

This was Abram’s struggle. God had promised that he would give Abram and Sarai a son. This was not just a son, but the son through whom the promise God made to Abram would pass down to the generations that would follow. Sarai and Abram waited year after year after year, but the child did not come. Now Sarai was getting too old to conceive (Gen. 16–18).

When we are in a situation where we are banking on a promise of God and the promise does not seem to come, it’s hard to wait. First, we are a bit concerned, but that concern turns into fear, and fear morphs into panic. In our panic, we begin to think about how we could do for ourselves what we have been waiting on God to do. Ask yourself how many of the things you do are formed more by fear of the “what ifs” than by faith in God.

So, Sarai gives Abram the servant girl, taking the situation into her own hands to fulfill God’s promise. Abram should have said no, but he doesn’t. Hagar conceives, Sarai becomes jealous, and she begins to mistreat Hagar. Hagar flees out of the home to escape the horrible situation that has developed. The house of Abram is forever divided because Abram and Sarai tried to do by human effort what only God can do.

But God is a God of grace. Not only does he not suspend his covenant promise to Abram, but he provides the promised son and blesses Hagar as well. God will not turn from his promises even when we are unwilling to wait but instead, try by our own wisdom and power to do what only he can do.

Today will you be tempted to try to do by human effort what only God can do? Will you be willing to wait? Will you trust in your Lord’s presence, power, and faithfulness? Will you find peace in the fact that his timing is always right? Will you rest in the surety of the promises of the Lord?

For further study and encouragement: Mark 4:26–32