Faith, Doubt, and God
Preacher: Tim Jenkins
Scripture: Genesis 15:1-12,17-18
Faith is not the absence of doubt—it is trusting in God’s promises even when we cannot yet see their fulfillment.
Abraham knew what it meant to wait. God had promised him descendants as numerous as the stars, yet he and Sarah remained childless. Time kept passing, and the fulfillment of God’s word seemed more and more unlikely. But even in his uncertainty, Abraham trusted, and God counted his faith as righteousness.
What makes this story remarkable is not Abraham’s unwavering confidence—it is God’s unwavering faithfulness. When God makes a covenant with Abraham, he does not require Abraham to walk through the ritual of commitment. Instead, God walks through it alone, declaring that his promise does not depend on human effort but on divine faithfulness.
Centuries later, Jesus would walk the road to Calvary alone, sealing the covenant with his own blood. His faithfulness covers our doubts. His righteousness becomes ours. And when we find ourselves waiting—wondering when or how God’s promises will come to pass—we can trust that he is still at work. The promise is always there. We just have to wait for its fulfillment.
Reflection Questions
Where in your life do you feel like you are waiting on God’s promises?
How does knowing that faith is counted as righteousness—not perfection—bring you comfort?
What doubts or fears can you bring before God in trust, as Abraham did?
How have you seen God’s faithfulness in your past, even when you couldn’t see it at the time?
How does Jesus’ fulfillment of the covenant encourage you to trust God today?
