Sarah longed to have a child but couldn’t. She was shocked when she overheard the news told to Abraham in Genesis 18: “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”
“Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent. Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” Are you “laughing” at the hope of something happening in your own life that you don’t think is possible, like Sarah did?
Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old? ’Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Lord, when we don’t see something as possible, remind us of Your words: Is anything too hard for the Lord?
Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”
But [the Lord] said, “Yes, you did laugh.” Have you ever recognized God in the middle of your doubt and been afraid? Sarah was afraid and lied, but God set her straight and still brought about His promise to her. Our fears and mess ups don’t limit God.
“Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what He had promised.Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him.
Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” (Genesis 21)
What a beautiful conclusion to this story of sadness, unbelief, longing, hope, promises fulfilled, and restoration.
Sarah laughed at herself when she saw how God came through. She was in awe of God’s promise fulfilled.
What in your life are you “laughing at” that you don’t think is impossible?
Is anything too hard for the Lord?
The Lord fulfilled His promise to Sarah, and she laughed a joyous laugh, celebrating the good gift God gave her.
I pray the same for you. That you would see the goodness of God in the land of living.
“I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13
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