The Power of a Good and Sincere Heart

In Genesis 15:5, the Lord said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars… so shall your descendants be.”
Abraham received this promise at seventy-five, and it took twenty-five years before Isaac was finally born.

This waiting was not empty time. It was a season in which God refined Abraham. From a human point of view, the promise seemed impossible—Abraham was old, and Sarah’s womb was dead. If his waiting had been fleshly, it would have turned into fear and frustration.

But Abraham did not doubt God. Romans 4:19–21 tells us that he did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, fully assured that God would do what He had promised.

His waiting was spiritual long-suffering—trusting God with peace even when nothing looked possible.
He could endure because his heart was good and sincere. A deceitful heart easily imagines a changeable God, but a sincere heart trusts God’s unchanging goodness.

Abraham believed, “God will surely fulfill His promise,” because his heart accepted the truth that God never changes.

This is true long-suffering.

God saw this faith and gave him Isaac.
Later, when God said, “Offer your son Isaac,” Abraham obeyed without hesitation.

At that moment on Mount Moriah, Abraham reached out and took the knife.
His hand rose calmly—not in fear, but in complete trust that God would remain good.
And at that very moment, God stopped him, for He had already seen Abraham’s heart.

Hebrews 6:15 says,
“And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.”

God also prepared a ram in Isaac’s place, pointing to Christ, the Lamb of God who would come for us.

Spiritual long-suffering is not forced endurance.
It is waiting in peace, holding God’s promise, and trusting in His unchanging faithfulness.