As I read the story of Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac today, I was once again amazed by the profound faith and obedience of Abraham.

In case you don’t know how the story goes, I’ll give you a brief synopsis:

1. God asks Abraham to offer Isaac as a burnt offering.
2. Abraham rises early the next morning, saddles his donkey, takes Isaac, and goes to the place where God told him.
3. Abraham builds an altar, bounds Isaac, lays him on the altar, and pulls out a knife.
4. An angel of the Lord stops Abraham and tells him not to lay a hand on Isaac, for he had proven that he fears God by not withholding even his son from him.
5. God blesses Abraham and promises to multiply his offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore.

The part that stood out most to me as I read the story this time is the response Abraham gives three different times: “Here am I”—once to God, once to Isaac, and once to an angel of the Lord. Basically, Abraham made himself available—first to God and then to the people around him.

As I pondered Abraham’s response, I had a simple but meaningful thought: Obedience is impossible without availability. Obedience doesn’t usually come natural, and it’s often difficult and painful. But before we get caught up in how hard it’s going to be to give up something God’s asking us to give up or do something he’s asking us to do, I think we could all benefit from asking this simple question: Have I made myself available?