February 21st, 2026
Saturday, February 21
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
~ Romans 4:18-25
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~ Romans 4:18-25
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Have you ever faced an “as good as dead” situation? I’m sure we all have at one time or another. In these situations, hope isn’t even on the table as a possibility. Give up, move on. Nothing’s going to come of this situation.
When Paul writes about Abraham, he points out that “he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead…and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.” This small detail is significant. It’s interesting that Paul draws attention to it. He doesn’t just point out that Abraham believed God. He focuses on how Abraham believed God in the face of a body “as good as dead.”
If you remember from yesterday, to “believe” is really more like entrusting one’s self to someone or something. Paul is pointing out that Abraham entrusted his life and future to the God whose promises are fulfilled. Even when the situation was as good as dead.
The point Paul will make later in Romans is that God also has the power to bring life to our dead, sinful flesh. Indeed, Paul says, “consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to Christ!” (Romans 6:11). Why? Because we’re talking about the God who gives life to what’s dead.
Paul implicitly asks his readers, “So…do YOU believe this? Do you entrust your lives to the word of God and to the Spirit of God who says “consider yourself dead to sin?” (Romans 6:1-23).
This is not the prosperity gospel. This is NOT, “If you entrust yourself to God, your best life will result.” Paul is speaking specifically about our broken human selves that seem to be unable to get it right. We fail repeatedly. It might seem to be a lost cause – “as good as dead.”
If you’re struggling (as we all do) with our own insufficiencies, with our inability to change, or with the fact that the same struggles never go away, and we can’t run from them no matter how hard we try…remember God’s word to Abraham when his body was “as good as dead.” This is more than the Christian cliché: “God’s not done yet.” This is about
God giving new life where you can’t imagine it. The life of hopeless struggle is not your story. The promise for Abraham is for you: through the Spirit, God can and will give life where sin has brought death. Entrust your life to that reality.
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When Paul writes about Abraham, he points out that “he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead…and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.” This small detail is significant. It’s interesting that Paul draws attention to it. He doesn’t just point out that Abraham believed God. He focuses on how Abraham believed God in the face of a body “as good as dead.”
If you remember from yesterday, to “believe” is really more like entrusting one’s self to someone or something. Paul is pointing out that Abraham entrusted his life and future to the God whose promises are fulfilled. Even when the situation was as good as dead.
The point Paul will make later in Romans is that God also has the power to bring life to our dead, sinful flesh. Indeed, Paul says, “consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to Christ!” (Romans 6:11). Why? Because we’re talking about the God who gives life to what’s dead.
Paul implicitly asks his readers, “So…do YOU believe this? Do you entrust your lives to the word of God and to the Spirit of God who says “consider yourself dead to sin?” (Romans 6:1-23).
This is not the prosperity gospel. This is NOT, “If you entrust yourself to God, your best life will result.” Paul is speaking specifically about our broken human selves that seem to be unable to get it right. We fail repeatedly. It might seem to be a lost cause – “as good as dead.”
If you’re struggling (as we all do) with our own insufficiencies, with our inability to change, or with the fact that the same struggles never go away, and we can’t run from them no matter how hard we try…remember God’s word to Abraham when his body was “as good as dead.” This is more than the Christian cliché: “God’s not done yet.” This is about
God giving new life where you can’t imagine it. The life of hopeless struggle is not your story. The promise for Abraham is for you: through the Spirit, God can and will give life where sin has brought death. Entrust your life to that reality.
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For reflection:
Prayer:
God of hope, sometimes life seems hopeless. We don’t know what to do next. Remind us of your faithfulness and your promise that you are always making things new. Amen.
- What parts of your life are “as good as dead”? In what areas of your life have you basically given up?
- What if you lived as if the promise of God was true? How might that change how you get up and face your life tomorrow?
- For those with kids: Talk about how the way we are is not the way things always will be. Have them share maybe how they might feel depressed or hopeless about their lives. Share the story of Abraham and how God promised something and how it strengthened his faith and gave him hope. Maybe share a story about how that was true for you once.
Prayer:
God of hope, sometimes life seems hopeless. We don’t know what to do next. Remind us of your faithfulness and your promise that you are always making things new. Amen.
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