How Much Faith Is Enough?
"By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised." --- Hebrews 11:11
Have you ever wondered: Am I faithful enough for God to love me, accept me, or work through me? Many believers find themselves struggling with weak faith, wondering if their doubt disqualifies them from God's love.
Sarah, the wife of Abraham, knew about doubt. She waited decades for God's promise. She tried to help God by giving her maid to her husband, only to end up hurt and frustrated. She even laughed when she heard she would have a child in her old age – not her best moment. Yet Hebrews 11 calls her a woman of faith, demonstrating God's faithfulness despite human weakness.
In Genesis we read that God promised Abraham a son through Sarah. Both Abraham and Sarah laughed. Not with joy---but with shock, skepticism, and maybe a hint of worry (Genesis 18:12). Sarah's faith was thin. But there's more to this story of God's faithfulness despite human weakness.
Scripture says Sarah received power to conceive "since she considered Him faithful who had promised." Her story is not about perfect faith. It's about growing faith through God’s working. It's about learning---in a slow and messy way---that faith sometimes feels like a whisper instead of a shout. Still, faith rests on God's sovereignty, not on the one who struggles to trust.
So, how much faith is enough? Sarah’s story teaches that it's not about how strong faith feels, but who faith looks to. She didn't always get it right. But she kept walking with perseverance. She went with Abraham into the unknown. She kept hoping, even after mistakes and pain. She didn't quit, finding assurance not in her own strength but in God's character.
If your faith feels weak, God doesn't reject you. His steadfast love remains constant even when we waver. Sarah was loved, called, and restored even when she laughed in disbelief. God gently rebuked her, but then kept His word through His preservation of the promise, giving her a son just as He promised. The kindness of God shows up again when Hebrews lifts her up as an example of enduring faith. 1 Peter 3:6 even calls her "fearless."
Compared to Abraham, Moses, or David, Sarah's faith looked different. More fragile, quieter, not always confident. Maybe that's why she's such a comfort for those who struggle with weak faith---people who feel invisible, pushed aside, or too weak to be spiritual heroes.
And Sarah's story points straight to Jesus. Her son Isaac was a direct link to the Savior. The New Testament uses her story as a picture of God's grace: the child of promise born not by human effort, but by supernatural mercy (Galatians 4:22-23, 28). The gospel is for those who doubt and struggle. It's for people whose faith is sometimes faint, showing God's faithfulness despite human weakness.
Remember, God measures faith not by its size, but by its object. Through His love for you He calls and carries those whose faith is faint. When you feel like you're "not enough," look to Jesus, whose promise never fails and whose steadfast love endures forever.
Lord, you are always faithful and kind.
Please forgive me for doubting your goodness or believing you are small.
Thank you for loving me when my faith falters.
Cause me to trust you, even when I feel weak, and help me find assurance in your love for me.
In Jesus’ name we pray
Song: Turn Your Eyes