Problem solvers are genuine people of influence. Our greatest inventions, the ones that have truly revolutionised people lives, have sprung out of problem-solving.
While some problem solvers provide meaningful solutions and make life better all the way around. In history, there have been problem solvers who solve the problem of lack by taking away from some people and exclude others from having. These are people who have created shortcuts, instead of taking the time to find workable solutions for the better of a greater amount of people.
Shortcuts in problem-solving can have disastrous consequences, which can affect our lives and the lives of our children. I too have experienced the horrible ripple effects of shortcuts that I have taken in my life.
Sarah in Genesis was an expert in shortcuts. If you have ever suffered the anguish of waiting many years to realise a dream, then Sarah is a woman that you can identify with. Her husband was promised that he would be the father of nations. In fact, we are told that his descendants would be as numerous as the as the sands of the seashore and the stars in the sky.
Sarah who thought that she was beyond childbearing years, was labelled Barren. She lost hope and in her impatient with the promise and gave her servant Hagar to Abraham to have a child with. As a woman in history was often sadly judged by their ability to bear children, her solution to the problem caused Hagar to despise Sarah and this strife between the two women resulted in a problem that affected the lives of many. Sarah did eventually get her blessing at over ninety years old, but the journey to blessing had been long and was complicated by her short cut.
Lessons we can learn from this mother of the nations.
Lesson 1: Learn the difference between focused drive and disastrous impatience.
Women who get things done and not naturally patient. In fact, it is their impatient nature that makes them driven to get things done quickly. Sometimes you just have to act. Action always produces results. But action taken without a proper strategy can produce disastrous results. Sarah's household was divided by the conflict that resulted by her sort sighted problem-solving.
Lesson 2: Do not let the current circumstances deter you from your purpose.
When you are believing for change and blessing in your life, you can become discouraged by the lack of results. Whether this is buying your own home, getting a promotion, losing weight. We do not always see the fruit of our labour immediately. There are countless stories of business people who became successful in the autumn years of their life. We need these champions who blossom late to be an encouragement to others. When you allow the circumstances of your life to deter you from your purpose, you begin to make drastic choices and that can produce bad results.
Lesson 3: Get rid of scarcity mentality
Sarah's husband Abraham was very wealthy. He had livestock, silver and gold. Their household had wealth and servants, but both Sarah and Abraham were distressed to be childless. When we allow ourselves to have a scarcity mentality, then we lose the joy that can be found in the blessings that we currently have.
Lesson 4: Accept responsibility for your life
After Hagar became pregnant, she despised Sarah. Sarah quickly ran to Abraham and told him that the way that Hagar was treating her, was his fault. She even went to so far as to say that God should judge between Sarah and her husband, conveniently forgetting that she had come up with the plan to start with. Blaming others only puts us into victim state. Hagar probably did despise Sarah, and Abraham probably did not initially use his leadership to manage this station, but Sarah's short cut had been the root of this problem.
Lesson 5: Do not let envy cloud the way you deal with others.
There are many people who have more than we have. Perhaps they are not as talented as we are. Perhaps they do not have the same values as we have. But being envious robs us of our joy and causes us to sow the seeds of discord in our relationships. Sarah's servant should have been a source of support to their household, but instead, it was a source of conflict.
Lesson 6: Do not become cynical
Abraham had some guests whom he wished to honour and he asked Sarah to help prepare a feast for them. They brought with them a prophesy that Sarah would in fact conceive. Sarah laughed at this notion and did not believe that it was possible. When we allow life's disappointments to cloud our vision, we have the possibility of becoming cynical.
Lesson 7: Take action in the direction of your dream
Many of us give up on our dreams and so no longer take action in the direction of our dreams. Without going into a biology lecture, we know that Sarah and Abraham had to take specific action to realise their dream of having a child. This action created a special son Isaac.
Lesson 8: Your positive action can create a legacy for generations to come.
Sarah's son Isaac fathered the twelve sons that became the twelve tribes of Israel. One of the famous children was Joseph, became Prime Minister of Egypt and through his vision and foresight saved a nation from starvation during a great famine.
What I have learned from Sarah, is that despite circumstances, we have the seeds of greatness in us. Given patience and wisdom, we can learn to celebrate the blessings that we have while we wait for our vision to unfold. Given given time, we can not only reach our dreams and be an encouragement to others to reach theirs.
Read about Sarah is Genesis: 16: 1 - 21: 7
Do you like Sarah, sometimes struggle with what your value is as a woman?
Here are some reads that will help you remember that you are valuable in God's eyes and that you have a purpose.
You Are Enough: What Women of the Bible Teach You About Your Mission and Worth (English)
Every one of us is made in the image of God. We are unique, we are worthy of love, and we are called to greatness.
In this world, though, it can be easy to be distracted from that truth and begin to doubt God's love is real. We live in a world that tells us we are not smart enough, not pretty enough, not sexy enough, not rich enough, not thin enough, and don t have enough friends.
It's easy to focus on the ways we fall short of worldly perfection and to forget that we are already made perfect. We are already enough. God has made each of us for a unique purpose, and he calls each of us to know him in unique ways.
In a world where everything feels fleeting and temporary, we are made for everlasting life; we are meant to experience God's abiding love. You Are Enough uses the timeless tales of the Bible to clarify that truth for modern women.
In this world, though, it can be easy to be distracted from that truth and begin to doubt God's love is real. We live in a world that tells us we are not smart enough, not pretty enough, not sexy enough, not rich enough, not thin enough, and don t have enough friends.
It's easy to focus on the ways we fall short of worldly perfection and to forget that we are already made perfect. We are already enough. God has made each of us for a unique purpose, and he calls each of us to know him in unique ways.
In a world where everything feels fleeting and temporary, we are made for everlasting life; we are meant to experience God's abiding love. You Are Enough uses the timeless tales of the Bible to clarify that truth for modern women.
● See how God's love for each of us shines forth through the stories of the women of the Old Testament.
● Connect with the hopes, dreams, struggles, and experiences of these remarkable women.
● Learn how the lives of these women contain valuable lessons for our lives today.
● Find hope and encouragement as you discover that you are enough, you are accepted for who you are as a beloved daughter of God
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- Nearly 400 Full or Partial Page Hand-Drawn Scripture Illustrations That May Be Filled
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