Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the incredible influence of moms. They wear more hats than anyone can count: chef, chauffeur, nurse, counselor, teacher, encourager, and best friend. But beyond all the roles and responsibilities, one of the greatest gifts a mother can leave behind is a legacy of faith.
In Hebrews 11, often called the “Hall of Faith,” we find the first woman specifically mentioned: Sarah, the wife of Abraham. Her story is not one of perfection, but of progress. Abraham and Sarah remind us that our lives do not have to be defined by our failures. They can be defined by our faith.
1. The Promise
Sarah’s story begins with a promise that seemed impossible.
“By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the one who had promised was faithful.”
Hebrews 11:11
God promised Abraham and Sarah they would become the father and mother of a great nation. There was just one problem: they could not have children. Their story begins in barrenness, disappointment, and waiting. Years passed without seeing God fulfill what He had spoken. Yet God continued to repeat His promise. That is often how faith works. God gives a promise long before we see the provision.
Sarah became the first woman in Scripture recorded as struggling with infertility. Yet God chose her anyway. Why? Because God specializes in using unlikely people. He works through weakness so His power can be seen clearly. Maybe you feel unusable because of your past, your failures, or your limitations. Sarah’s story reminds us that God is not looking for perfect people. He is looking for people willing to trust Him.
Don’t ever let the facts cancel out the faith.
2. The Problems
Waiting is difficult for all of us. Abraham and Sarah grew impatient, and instead of trusting God’s timing, they tried to solve the problem themselves. Sarah encouraged Abraham to have a child through Hagar, her servant. What followed was pain, division, jealousy, and chaos. That’s what happens when we lean on our own understanding instead of seeking God. No family is perfect. Scripture is honest about that reality. Noah got drunk. Moses lost his temper. David committed adultery. Peter denied Jesus. Abraham lied. Sarah manipulated.
Yet God still worked through them.
That doesn’t excuse sin, but it does remind us that failure is not final when grace is involved.
Law says:
“You must earn it. Perform better. Try harder.”
Grace says:
“God has already done what you could never do on your own.”
Christianity is not about what we can do for God. It is about what God has done for us through Jesus.
Parents especially need wisdom to balance both truth and grace in the home. Rules matter. Boundaries matter. But relationships matter too. Err on the side of relationship.
3. The Power
Eventually, God reminded Abraham and Sarah that the promise would never happen through their own ability.
“I am God Almighty.”
Genesis 17:1
This is the first appearance of the name El Shaddai in Scripture, meaning “God Almighty” or “the All-Sufficient One.” God changed Abram’s name to Abraham and Sarai’s name to Sarah. In Hebrew, God added a breathing sound to both names, symbolizing that He was breathing His life into them. That is what God still does today. Sometimes God changes our circumstances. Other times, He changes us while we wait.
Abraham and Sarah both laughed at the idea of having a child in their old age. Humanly speaking, it was impossible. Yet God stepped in and did what only He could do.
“Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised.”
Genesis 21:1
Twenty-five years after the promise was first given, Isaac was finally born. God keeps His promises, even when the waiting feels unbearable.
4. The Provision
Sarah’s story ultimately points us beyond motherhood, beyond family, and beyond even Isaac himself. It points us to Jesus.
In Genesis 22, Abraham is asked to place Isaac on the altar. Isaac carries the wood up Mount Moriah just as Jesus would later carry the cross. A ram is caught in the thicket as a substitute sacrifice, foreshadowing Christ wearing a crown of thorns.
“God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.”
Genesis 22:8
Everything in the story points forward to Jesus, the Lamb of God who would ultimately be sacrificed for the sins of the world. The story does not simply end with Sarah having a baby. It ends with surrender. Abraham and Sarah had to trust God with the thing they loved most. That is true for every parent and every believer. Our children, our dreams, our future, our health, our careers, and our plans all ultimately belong to God.
Motherhood is not ownership. It is stewardship.
Faith means trusting God enough to place everything in His hands.
God Sees You
Maybe today you feel barren spiritually. Maybe you are exhausted from waiting. Maybe your marriage feels broken, your dreams feel dead, or your future feels uncertain. Sarah’s story reminds us that God is still the God who brings dead things back to life.
He sees you.
He is more than enough for you.
And He will provide everything you need through Jesus Christ.
Set your hope on the God who raises the dead.
That is the message of faith.
That is the hope of the Gospel.
And that is the kind of legacy worth leaving behind.
If you’re ready to take your next step, fill out a Connection Card or visit one of our campus locations. We would love to pray with you, baptize you, or help you get connected.