Trusting God’s Timing: Lessons from the Life of Sarah

So, let’s talk about Sarah. Now, if you’ve ever felt like you’ve had to wait forever for a dream to come true or like you’ve doubted the things God has promised you, then you’ll totally relate to Sarah’s story. She’s this amazing woman in the Bible, but she had her fair share of struggles—just like all of us. Sarah (or Sarai, as she was originally called) was married to Abraham, and they had quite the adventurous life together.

***I have a FREE Bible Journaling Printable for Sarah, available in the shop!***

Bible Story Summary About Eve

You see, God had promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations. I can only imagine what Sarah must’ve been thinking as her husband came home one day and said, “Hey babe, guess what? God said I’m going to have more descendants than there are stars in the sky!” And yet, here she was, getting older, year after year, with no children of her own.

Sarah waited decades for that promise of a child. Can you imagine the emotional rollercoaster? I’m sure she had moments of hope, followed by moments of deep disappointment. And just like we do sometimes, Sarah tried to take things into her own hands. She even convinced her husband to have a child with her servant, Hagar, because she thought, “Hey, maybe this is how it’s supposed to happen?” Spoiler alert: that didn’t go so well.

But the beautiful part? Even though Sarah made mistakes along the way, God was still faithful. He kept His promise. At the age of 90 (yes, you read that right—ninety!), Sarah gave birth to Isaac. Can you imagine?! Talk about a testimony to God’s timing and faithfulness. Sarah’s story is a real reminder that even when things seem impossible, God can still work miracles.

Important Bible Verses About Sarah

There are so many nuggets of wisdom we can find in the Bible about Sarah. Here are just a few verses that help us understand her journey:

1. Genesis 17:15-16 (NIV)
   “God also said to Abraham, ‘As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.’”
   • This is when God changes Sarai’s name to Sarah, symbolizing the new direction in her life and the promise that was about to be fulfilled. Her identity shifts because of God’s promise!
2. Genesis 18:12 (NIV)
   “So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, ‘After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?’”
   • I love this verse because it shows Sarah’s humanness. She laughed in disbelief when God said she would have a child in her old age. Haven’t we all had those moments where we’re like, “Yeah, right, God. Is this even possible?”
3. Hebrews 11:11 (NIV)
   “And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.”
   • This verse shows us that, despite her initial doubts, Sarah ultimately had faith in God’s promise, and that’s what brought her the miracle of Isaac.
4. 1 Peter 3:6 (NIV)
   “Like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.”
   • This verse highlights Sarah’s role as a faithful and supportive wife, even in challenging situations, and reminds us not to give in to fear.

5 Facts About Sarah

1. Her Original Name Was Sarai: Before God changed her name, Sarah was called Sarai, which means “my princess.” When God renamed her Sarah, it meant “princess” or “noblewoman,” reflecting her role as the mother of nations.
2. She Lived a Long Life: Sarah lived to be 127 years old, which was a long life even by Biblical standards. She got to see her promised son, Isaac, grow up!
3. She Laughed at God’s Promise: When God told Abraham that Sarah would have a son, Sarah overheard and laughed. She couldn’t believe that at 90 years old, she’d become a mom. But God had the last laugh—Isaac’s name even means “laughter” in Hebrew!
4. She Struggled With Doubt: Even though Sarah was chosen by God to be part of His great plan, she had moments of serious doubt. She even tried to “help” God’s plan by giving her servant Hagar to Abraham, leading to the birth of Ishmael.
5. She Was Buried in Hebron: Sarah was the first person to be buried in the Cave of Machpelah, which Abraham purchased as a family burial site. It’s still considered a significant location today.

Characteristics, Strengths, and Weaknesses of Sarah

Just like all of us, Sarah had her strengths, but she also had her weaknesses. Let’s break it down:

Strengths:

• Faithful: Despite her doubts, Sarah remained loyal to her husband and followed him as he pursued God’s calling.
• Courageous: Sarah faced some serious challenges—leaving her homeland, wandering through foreign lands, dealing with infertility—but she kept moving forward.
• Resilient: Even after years of waiting, disappointment, and frustration, Sarah’s heart remained open to God’s promises, and she saw them come to pass.

Weaknesses:

• Doubtful: Sarah struggled with doubt, especially when God’s promises seemed too impossible. I mean, who could blame her? Having a baby at 90 seems pretty out there.
• Impatient: Like many of us, Sarah tried to take matters into her own hands instead of waiting on God. Her decision to have Hagar bear Abraham’s child brought about a lot of conflict.
• Jealous: After Hagar had Ishmael, Sarah became jealous and treated her harshly. Even though it was Sarah’s idea to involve Hagar, the consequences of her decision led to bitterness.

Lessons From the Life of Sarah

Now, what can we learn from Sarah’s life? Quite a bit, actually. Her story is full of life lessons that apply to us today:

1. God’s Timing Is Always Perfect: Oh, this one is hard! Sarah waited decades for her promise. In her waiting, she got impatient and doubted God. But in the end, God came through. His timing is always perfect, even when it feels like He’s late. (Spoiler: He’s never late.)
2. Faith Doesn’t Mean We Won’t Have Doubts: Sarah had moments of faith and moments of doubt. And that’s okay! God didn’t disqualify her because she laughed at His promise. Even in our moments of doubt, God is still faithful.
3. Taking Matters Into Our Own Hands Can Cause Problems: Sarah’s decision to “help” God by involving Hagar led to a lot of heartache. When we try to rush God’s plans, it often leads to messes that are hard to clean up.
4. God Uses Imperfect People: Sarah wasn’t perfect. She made mistakes. But God still used her to fulfill His promise. That’s such a relief, right? We don’t have to be perfect for God to work through us.
5. We Are Never Too Old for God’s Promises: Sarah was 90 when she had Isaac! If that doesn’t prove that God can do anything, I don’t know what does. No matter how old we are, or how long we’ve waited, God’s promises are always possible.

5 Discussion Questions About the Life of Sarah

1. Have you ever doubted God’s promises, like Sarah did? How did you handle those moments of doubt?
2. What are some ways you’ve tried to “help” God’s plan in your own life? Did those efforts work out, or did they create complications?
3. How do you stay hopeful during seasons of waiting, like Sarah’s long wait for a child?
4. Sarah laughed when she heard God’s plan for her. Have you ever felt like something God promised was too impossible to believe?
5. What strengths do you see in Sarah’s story that inspire you? Are there any of her weaknesses that resonate with your own struggles?

How We Can Apply What We’ve Learned About Sarah to Our Own Lives

Okay, ladies, let’s be real for a second. How many of us are terrible at waiting? (Raises hand.) Sarah’s story is all about waiting and trusting in God’s timing. Whether we’re waiting for a job opportunity, a relationship, healing, or an answered prayer, Sarah reminds us that even though the waiting is hard, God is still working behind the scenes.

But Sarah also shows us that it’s okay to have doubts. If you’ve ever had a moment where you’ve doubted God, laughed at the impossible, or tried to rush things along, you’re not alone. Sarah did all those things—and yet, God still fulfilled His promise to her. It’s such a beautiful reminder that God is faithful, even when we aren’t.

Another takeaway? We need to be cautious about “helping” God along. It’s tempting to take things into our own hands when we feel like God is taking too long. But Sarah’s story shows us the consequences of trying to speed up God’s plan. When Sarah encouraged Abraham to have a child with Hagar, it created conflict and hurt. Sometimes, what we think is a quick fix ends up being a bigger mess than we anticipated. So, while waiting isn’t easy, it’s better to trust God’s process than to rush into something that’s not part of His perfect plan.

Also, Sarah teaches us that God’s promises are not bound by our limitations—whether that’s age, circumstances, or anything else. Sarah was 90 when she had Isaac, proving that there’s no expiration date on God’s promises. Whether you’re 25 or 75, God can still use you, still work through you, and still fulfill His promises in your life. If you feel like your time has passed or you’re “too old” for something, think again!

Finally, Sarah’s story is a reminder that faith is a journey. There will be moments of doubt, fear, and even laughter at how impossible something seems. But in the end, God is always faithful to His word. Our job is to keep trusting, even when it feels hard.

A Short Prayer to End the Devotional

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You so much for Sarah’s story and for reminding us that You are always faithful, even when we struggle to believe. Lord, we confess that there are times when we doubt Your promises, when we try to rush things along, or when we feel like it’s just too late for us. But we know that Your timing is perfect and that nothing is impossible for You.

Help us to trust You more deeply, especially in seasons of waiting. Give us patience and faith, just as You gave to Sarah. And Lord, when we face those moments of doubt, remind us that You are still working, that You haven’t forgotten us, and that Your promises will come to pass.

We ask that You strengthen us, encourage us, and help us to encourage the other women in our lives. May we be reminders to each other of Your goodness and faithfulness. Thank You for using imperfect people like Sarah—and like us—to accomplish Your perfect plans.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sarah’s story is such an incredible example of God’s faithfulness, even when life doesn’t go the way we expect. I hope her journey encourages you today, no matter where you’re at or what you’re waiting for. Keep holding onto God’s promises, friend. He’s not done with you yet!