Sarah - A Woman of Faith

Many of us know the story of Abraham and Sarah. As her husband Abraham faithfully followed God’s calling to a new land, she followed. When God made a promise to Abraham that he would be the Father of many nations it seemed impossible because of their age. But Hebrews 11:11 says, “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.” Incredible faith. Incredibly faithful Father. But what I have often found interesting is 1 Peter 3’s words about Sarah. Have you ever read the first part of that chapter stacked with wisdom and goodness for women? 

1 Peter 3:1-7 “Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”

Great stuff in there! The curious part to me comes at the end of verse 6. “And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.” Do good - I understand that part. And do not fear anything that is frightening? That seems like a tall order, especially for a woman! Especially for a mother! It reminds me of the Proverbs 31 woman who “laughs at the time to come”. She is not afraid or fearful of what may happen. What incredible strength. Where does it come from? One commentator suggests that the word “fear” in 1 Peter 3:6 is related to the words used in Proverbs 3:25-26. “Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.” The Lord your God will be your confidence. That is where that strength comes from. Sarah knew the same thing the Proverbs 31 woman knew -the One who holds her “foot” and keeps it from being caught. What incredible faith and trust. I want to have that Sarah faith and trust.

I am by nature a worrier. I am a mom at heart who loves taking care of others and looking out for their best interests (aka worrying about others). By the time I was three I was already “mothering” my poor younger sister, Meg. By 13 I was given the nickname “Mama Mary” by my peers at school. By the age of 26 I had been entrusted with 83 students that I was to mother ;) mentor, guide, and assume a type of guardianship for. However, once I became pregnant I realized that by assuming this “mothering role” I often have a tendency to protect, comfort, and guide out of my own ability or strength rather than point to the Protector, Comforter, and Guide. Early in my pregnancy I found myself constantly worrying about this baby. How could I care for and protect this little one that I couldn’t even see? Was I gaining enough weight? Too much? Eating the wrong things? I constantly worried about having a miscarriage. Then one day while I was running, in the middle of my worry, I heard the Lord speak to my heart. He said,  “If you cannot trust me with this little one who is still unborn, how will you ever trust me with your children once they are born?” That became a turning point for me. Although I still would worry some (and definitely have the last month and a half), those words ring through my heart. If I say I trust Him with my whole life and being, am I living that out and actively choosing to trust Him both with things I have control over and can see, and with those that I don’t have control over and can’t see? Am I trusting Him with my whole life and being, including the one inside of me?

I am learning about trust and submission. At first I was frustrated that God would tell me to trust Him with this little life and then once I did for her to be given such a grim diagnosis. It felt harsh and mean. How could God do that? Slowly He has revealed to me that maybe the trust He wants to teach me about is deeper. It is deeper than circumstances. It is deeper than what medicine can and can’t do or predict. It is deeper than my understanding. It is deeper even than life or death. It is an eternal trust. A heaven-minded trust. A bigger picture trust. It is a Sarah trust. A dear college friend of mine, Britney Moore recently sent me a quote from Rick Warren. “I do not have to know why everything happens, since I know God is good, He loves me, and life on Earth is not the whole story.” Margaret Anne is part of a bigger story. Her life here on Earth is but a mere shadow of the Life for which we are living. As her parents, the most we can do is give her back. We selfishly hope and pray that her life on earth is long and will be spent giving praise and glory to God. However, if her life here is only a few hours or days or even spent just inside of me, we pray that those days will be precious and spent for the sake of the Gospel and the glory of God. I’m not laughing at the time to come yet, but I do have a quiet smile inside. I know who holds my “foot” and Margaret Anne’s.

~Mary Michael

“By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.”
-Hebrews 11:9-10