In Genesis 18, angels appear to Abraham, who is 100 years old and has been waiting a long time for the promise of God to be fulfilled in his life. They tell him incredible news that within a year his 90-year-old wife, Sarah, will have a son. "Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent. Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?” (verses 10-13 NTL)
Sarah was jaded by the excessively long wait. She had probably spent about 30 years of her life hoping to become a mother. She'd let that dream go decades ago, even though the Lord had promised Abraham that he'd be the father of a great nation. Maybe she thought that she'd somehow offended God and her barrenness was her punishment. I highly doubt any of us have waited that long for God to fulfill His promises to us, but we are still jaded and even angry, or maybe ashamed. Sarah laughed in mocking disbelief when the Lord told her husband that in one year, she would finally have a baby.
God kept His promise to her - even though she made a giant mess of things. Even though she had taken matters into her own hands. Even though she had given up hope a long time ago. Even though she laughed.
God kept his promise to Abraham, and one year later Sarah had a baby. Genesis 21:6-7 says, "Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me. Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!” (NLT)
When that baby was born, mockery and disbelief were overshadowed by genuine joy and pleasure. Sarah recognized the impact her new laughter would have on the world. This miracle would bring genuinely joyful laughter to everyone who heard it.
My waiting friend, there's a miracle in the works for you too. Even if you've made a giant mess of everything and there seems to be no solution. Even if your situation is completely hopeless by human standards. Everyone who hears about your miracle will laugh with joy and be encouraged. Nothing is impossible with God.
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