Considerations

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. (Hebrews 11:8)

I’m too old. I’m too young. There’s not enough money. I’m not qualified. I come from the wrong part of town. These are just some excuses we can use to nullify ourselves from opportunities presented to us. Sarah, who was well beyond child-bearing age, thought she was too old to bear the child God promised to her and Abraham. (See Genesis 18). Thankfully God did not stop at her initial sense of doubt that she would have a baby. Her faith in God, to miraculously bring forth a child from her aged womb, was eventually strengthened as she now prominently exists in the Hebrews 11 Walk of Faith as one who “considered him faithful who had made the promise.” (Hebrews 11:11) 

The By Faith chapter of how the ancients lived in active faith in the Lord to do what He said He would do, encourages us to have the same faith that God can still be believed to do what He says. However recently another two words from the Hebrews Faith chapter were brought to my attention that takes the faith walk to another level: even though.

Even Though

During a televised sermon, a preacher shared how these two words indicate a faith walk that still chooses to believe even though what is hoped for seems impossible. It’s one thing to have faith that something will happen but it’s another thing to believe when it seems humanly impossible or when circumstances dictate otherwise. For example, Sarah is a woman so having a baby is very possible. But we know that as a woman gets older, the likelihood of being able to conceive gets far less likely. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, by the age of 45, fertility has declined so much that getting pregnant naturally is unlikely.¹

And this is where ‘even though’ comes into play. Even though Sarah was well beyond the childbearing age, there was faith that God would bring forth that promised child. Yes, perhaps there was a bit of doubt in the mix too but in the end Sarah’s faith in God to do what He said won out.

In Hebrews 11:8, our scripture focus, we see Abraham’s ‘even though’ highlighted.  He obeyed God’s directive to leave the land of his family to go to the land God promised him even though he did not know where he was going. This is a great example of walking by faith to another level. It’s one thing to leave behind your family and know where you are heading. But to go out with no clue where he was going and what lay ahead for him (where would he live, would there be food and water, would there be friendly neighbors) that took great faith in the One who was directing him to leave behind all that was familiar.

A Change in Our Perspective

As mentioned in the beginning of this post, there are a variety of excuses we can use to keep us from moving forward in the very things God is calling us to step out and do. We can get caught up in our age, our current financial status, our level of education, our past and so much more that stops us from not only being what God has called us to be but also prevents us from living out the life we were individually made for. Perhaps the excuses are not about us personally but more about not having all the answers or not being able to see all the steps that lie ahead. But what if we took our excuses which are rooted in reality and changed our perspective about them?

The challenge would be, for us to view them not as excuses but as our own set of ‘even thoughs’. To turn them into badges that we wear proudly. Why? Because when God steps in and calls us to take a daring leap of faith even though we _________________________ (fill in the blank with your even though), we have the opportunity to provide him with the stage to do what only He can do. And after we have done our part in taking that step of faith, God does His part and the only testimony we will be able to shout is “But God!” 

The ‘even thoughs’ in our lives highlight our very real human limitations while providing a platform for all to see the sovereignty and omnipotence of our Mighty God! So I encourage each of us to transform those excuses into ‘even thoughs’ that showcase “what is impossible with man is possible with God” (Luke 18:27) and allow ourselves to be used by God to demonstrate to others what it means to walk by faith with Him.

1. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/having-a-baby-after-age-35-how-aging-affects-fertility-and-pregnancy#:~:text=A%20woman’s%20peak%20reproductive%20years,getting%20pregnant%20naturally%20is%20unlikely.
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