No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised. That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness.
– Romans 4:20–22
I love those verses. This description of Abraham, no unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God. What a picture! To have such confidence in the promise of God! In the many promises of God… that you don’t waver through unbelief. Instead, he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God.
Romans 4:20–22 Cites Abraham as an Example of Faith
So Abraham was waiting year after year for God to be faithful to his promise to provide him and Sarah a child. And he didn’t waver. He actually grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God. And then listen to this phrase. Because he was fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
How do you grow in faith when you’re in dark days? You grow in faith by staying convinced that your God is able to do what he has promised. And as you trust day in and day out, “He’s faithful, he’s faithful, he’s faithful. He’s going to show himself faithful. He is able to do all that he promised,” you will grow strong in faith and God will receive glory. He was strengthened in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. And that is why his faith was counted as righteousness. Not even his works. The emphasis here in Romans 4 is on his faith in God, trust in God, that led to righteousness. And obedience flows from faith-filled righteousness.
Romans 4:20–22 Encourages Us to Grow Strong in the Faith
I just want to encourage anyone who’s listening to this right now, who’s going through a dark day, dark season, where you’re struggling in your faith, fill your mind and your heart today and tomorrow all throughout these days with the promises of God. And believe that God is faithful and able and he will do what he has promised. I was singing the other day in the car, “All my life, God, you have been faithful. All my life, you have been so, so good.”
Oh God, we pray that you would make us like Abraham in these ways according to Romans 4. We pray that you would keep us from wavering concerning your promises through unbelief. God, we pray that you would help us to grow strong in faith in ways that are good for us and glorifying to you. Lord, I pray for any and every person who’s listening to this right now whose faith is wavering or weakening in any way, God, I pray you’d strengthen their faith as they meditate on your promises.
God, we praise you for all your promises all throughout our word, and we pray that you would help us to live with confidence in them, with hope in them, with joy over them, and with faith that you are not only able to be true to what you have promised, that you will be true to what you have promised.
Prayer for the Devanga People
Oh God, we long for all the peoples of the world to know your faithfulness. We pray specifically today for the Devanga people of India, for this people group of over half a million, Devanga, God, please draw these Hindu peoples who worship the goddess Banashankari. God show that you alone are God, that you alone are worthy of their trust, and give them faith that is counted as righteousness. We pray that you draw them to faith in Jesus, even as we pray in our own lives today, help us to live by faith. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
David Platt serves as a Lead Pastor for McLean Bible Church. He is also the Founder and Chairman of Radical, an organization that helps people follow Jesus and make him known in their neighborhood and all nations.
David received his B.A. from the University of Georgia and M.Div., Th.M., and Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Some of his published works include Radical, Radical Together, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, and Don’t Hold Back.
He lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area with his wife and children.
