When we think about faith, we often feel like we fall short. We mess up, we doubt, and we don’t always follow God’s plan the way we should. But the Bible gives us examples of people who were strong in faith despite their mistakes. Abraham is one of those examples.
In Romans 4:18-19it says, “Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb.” Abraham had faith even when everything seemed impossible. But what’s amazing is that Abraham wasn’t perfect. In fact, he made some huge mistakes along the way.
Abraham’s Failures
God promised Abraham that he would have a son, and through that son, a great nation would be born. But years went by, and nothing happened. Abraham tried to take matters into his own hands.
1. He offered his servant Eliezer: At one point, Abraham told God that maybe his servant, Eliezer, could be his heir (Genesis 15:2). But God told him, “No, your heir will come from your own body.”
2. He married Hagar: When Sarah got tired of waiting, she suggested Abraham marry her maid, Hagar, to have a child. That’s how Ishmael was born (Genesis 16:1-4). This clearly wasn’t God’s plan.
3. He asked God to bless Ishmael as the heir: Later, Abraham pleaded with God to make Ishmael the heir of the promise (Genesis 17:18). But God told him again that Sarah would bear the promised son, Isaac.
Each of these choices was Abraham trying to fulfill God’s promise his way instead of God’s way.
God’s Patience with Abraham
Before we judge Abraham too harshly, let’s be honest—don’t we do the same thing? We know what God wants us to do, but instead of waiting or trusting, we try to fix things ourselves. Then, when it all falls apart, God steps in to correct us.
Abraham wasn’t strong in faith because he never messed up. He was strong in faith because he kept moving forward. Even after failing, he still trusted God’s promises and adjusted his course when God corrected him.
The Consequences of Going Our Own Way
One of Abraham’s biggest mistakes was having a child with Hagar. Ishmael wasn’t the child of the promise, and his descendants have been at odds with Isaac’s descendants (the Israelites) ever since. This conflict continues to impact the world today. It’s a reminder that our decisions have long-lasting consequences.
What It Means to Be Strong in Faith
So how can we be strong in faith like Abraham? Here are a few lessons we can learn:
1. Keep trusting, even after failure: God doesn’t expect us to be perfect, but He does expect us to trust Him. Abraham failed multiple times, yet he kept believing in God’s promise.
2. Take correction humbly: Abraham listened when God corrected him. He didn’t argue or give up—he adjusted his actions to align with God’s will.
3. Move forward in obedience: Faith isn’t just about believing; it’s about taking action. Abraham followed God, even when he didn’t fully understand how everything would work out.
4. Wait for God’s timing: One of Abraham’s biggest struggles was waiting. But God’s timing is always perfect, and Isaac was born exactly when God intended.
So, if you’ve stumbled in your walk with God, take heart. Being strong in faith isn’t about never falling—it’s about getting back up, trusting God, and letting Him guide you. Like Abraham, you can move forward in faith, even when the road seems unclear. God is faithful to His promises, and He’ll guide you every step of the way.
