Chewing on a pretty straight forward statement of fact in Genesis from long ago which, it seems to me, has some pretty far reaching implications for doing life here today.

The LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as He had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.

(Genesis 21:1-2 ESV)

As He had said. As He had promised.

Behold our God! That’s how He rolls.

The “Canaan or bust” faith journey of a 75 year old Abraham (Gen. 12:4) and his 65 year old wife, Sarah, was ambitious by any stretch of the imagination. Not typically the season of life when folks are looking for a major change. Much less one that involves going without knowing (Heb. 11:8).

But go they did. To a new land. With a new hope. Told they would have a new family. But with bodies that were anything but new.

Abraham’s 75 became, way too quickly, the burning of 99 candles on the birthday cake. And Sarah’s 65 year old womb, which had been unable to bear children thus far, wasn’t any more likely to cooperate after another 24 hard years of aging upon it. The Scriptures stating explicitly, “The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah” (Gen. 18:11). No wonder that, when God reiterated His promise that Sarah would give birth to a son, that both old man and old wife laughed to themselves at the absurdity of continuing to hold on to such hope (17:17, 18:12).

But conceive Sarah did. As God had said. As God had promised.

“Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:14 ESV)

Nope! Not then. Not now.

And Sarah’s experience is my encouragement. What God has said, what God has promised, God will do.

So, I gotta know what God says and what God promises. Thank you, Lord, for Your Word and for the Spirit in me Who illuminates, revelates, and habituates Your truth within me. Keep me coming back to it.

And, I gotta believe what God says and what God promises. I do believe, help my unbelief. Nurture faith. Forgive doubt. Take my mustard seeds of faith and allow them to grow into mighty refuges of trust.

And, I gotta walk in anticipation of the fulfillment of what God says and what God promises. Keepin’ on keepin’ on, because He is faithful and nothing is to hard for our God.

In hope [Abraham] believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised.

(Romans 4:18-21 ESV)

Fully convinced that God is able to do.

As He said. As He promised.

By His grace. For His glory.