“So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I can obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.”
I grew up in the country side of West Texas. Lots of cotton farms and mesquite trees. Every year we would see the farmers plant their fields with hopes of a great harvest. Some parts of West Texas had those circle watering sprinkler things; the ones that are on a timer and water in a big circle. The part I grew up in relied upon the rain from the good Lord above, no sprinklers. Those farmers all had some really good quotes. One that stuck with me is, “you can’t make it grow faster by yelling at it!” Those farmers had to put their trust in the Lord to water and grow the cotton. You could not make it grow any faster by getting frustrated at the Lord’s timing.
Sarai spoke these words in response to her impatient actions waiting on God. We know Abram was 86 when Hagar bore him Ishmael. Chapter 15 is when God tells Abram that he would give him a son so not too much time had passed before Sarai gives her husband Hagar. Frustrated by God’s timing, Sarai comes up with a plan and Abram agreed to the plot laid out by Sarai.
As we often find ourselves in the middle waiting on God, I often think of Sarai. How often we are so tired of waiting and utter the phrase “perhaps I can…” Here we go again. The impatient actions we display brings forth something that is not in God’s plan and causes us some real pain.
In verse 4 it says that Sarai began to despise her mistress. She then drove her out of the camp. The ill conceived actions we display waiting on God can drive us mad with jealousy and anger. Maybe it is our own impatience that have brought us where we are right now? I will bet Sarai regretted giving Hagar to Abram just like we will regret stepping out in front of God and saying “perhaps I can..” When we find ourselves in those situations, Jesus said it best in Luke 22:42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Today practice saying “Not my will, but God’s” when you are so frustrated at progress and feel compelled to make it happen yourself. God has a plan and it is better than ours. Sarai later gave birth to Isaac just as He promised would happen. Relax and enjoy the journey because your tour guide is God.
Let It Go 
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