Imagine your spouse saying to you, “Honey, it’s time to leave our comfy/cozy home. Get rid of most of your stuff. We’re about to start traveling. I’m not sure exactly where we’re going, but God told us to trust Him.”
#TrueStory
Her name was Sarah – biblical figure, wife, mother, and warrior in her own right. Genesis 12 would reveal a transition period of a lifetime for Sarah and her husband, Abraham.
God would surely lead the couple to unfamiliar territory, but this would not be your normal family #RoadTrip adventure.
Their journey would be filled with personal/family drama, uncertainty, and the periodic turmoil of what they lacked as a couple who could not have children for many years.
| DANGER | Genesis 12: 10-20, Genesis 20: 1-3 | There were threats of Sarah being permanently captured by foreign rulers with involuntary separation from her husband. |
| SHAME/LACK | Genesis 11:30, Genesis 15:2 | Sarah was barren. Only the intervention of God could help her birth a child in a culture that did not regularly mirror women like her. |
| CHAOTIC HOME LIFE | Genesis 16:5, Genesis 21: 8-10 | Sarah & Abraham utilized a surrogate (Hagar) to carry a son. This caused tension and strife between Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar. |
I’m sure Sarah didn’t think her initial move with Abraham would be connected to the disappointment, discouragement, and anxiety that accompanied many of the transition periods of her life.
Wouldn’t God fulfill His promise to bless them as they had obediently left all they knew?
I can imagine the excitement of “starting over” was frequently overshadowed by the many “ups and downs” of the infamous #RoadTrip.
And as I consider the “Sarah’s” of our time, I can’t help but think:
“The struggle is real, but God is even more real…”
Genesis 21:2 (NLT)
Sarah became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would.
As Sarah obtained the promise, so shall the women of today receive the same (according to God’s perfect will, purpose, and timing) as those who choose to walk by faith and not by sight.
What’s often felt in the manner of discomfort during one’s particular transition is NORMAL and I challenge you, me, and anyone being drawn by the Lord at this very moment to:
Place worship of God at the center of all pursuits. Strength and endurance in our transition process can only come from Him as the One who supersedes human nature, fear, and apprehension.
Reject the notion that God has perhaps changed his mind when things seem delayed, chaotic, or disrupted.
Receive the Lord’s grace while appreciating His invitation to explore new opportunities and territory. Turning away from murmuring and complaining is crucial for remaining grateful versus bitter.
In the same way I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born,” says the Lord. “If I cause you the pain, I will not stop you from giving birth to your new nation,” says your God. – Isaiah 66:9
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Reflection Questions
•What things are frustrating to you as it relates to the plans and timing of God?
•If you are married – how could God be using the “obstacles” in your marriage to help you grow and develop as a person who is fully committed to your vows to Him and your relationship with your spouse?
•If you are single – how could God be using the “obstacles” in your life to help grow and develop you as a person who is fully committed to the faith you profess publicly and privately?
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Keturah Ford, M.S. Ed. – Certified Marriage Facilitator, has been a sought-after speaker and relationship consultant for nearly a decade and has been married for fifteen (15) years. She founded Healthy Relationships Network in 2017 and is specifically trained in the SYMBIS Assessment (Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts). Keturah is extremely passionate about seeing people build a firm foundation in the Word of God for healthy single living, dating, and marriage.
Keturah A. Ford 
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