When you’re waiting on God, it can be tempting to try and help Him out. That’s exactly what Abraham and Sarah did — and it led to a mess that caused heartache that is still around us today.
Genesis 16:1-5 says,
“Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid… And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived… And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee…”
Eventually, Hagar’s son would go on to cause tension that reached far beyond their family. Ishmael, though deeply loved by Abraham, was not the child of promise. His birth sparked a rivalry that carried into the next generation and even created conflict between nations. What started as a shortcut around God’s timing ended up planting seeds of division that would last for centuries.
How often do we do the same thing? We get tired of waiting on God’s timing. We think, “Maybe I just need to take control,” or “I’ll make this happen myself.” But running ahead of God never works out the way we hope. It might bring quick results, but not lasting peace.
Paul talks about this in Galatians 3:3 —
“Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”
In other words, if God started the work, why are we trying to finish it in our own strength? Fleshly solutions might feel faster, but they don’t produce the fruit of the Spirit. Only obedience and faith do that.
Jesus, on the other hand, never ran ahead of the Father’s plan. Even when His brothers pushed Him to “go public” and show His power, He waited.
John 7:6 says,
“Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come…”
He trusted the Father’s perfect timing — even when it meant more waiting, more rejection, and more pain.
Sometimes, waiting is the most spiritual thing you can do. It shows that you trust God more than you trust yourself. Abraham and Sarah eventually learned that lesson — but not without scars.
If you’re tempted to fix something on your own today — to take a shortcut or push your way forward — take a breath and step back. If God promised it, He’ll bring it to pass. You don’t need to force it. His way is better, even when it takes longer.
