A friend recently shared her daughter’s frustrations with me in her attempts to get pregnant. Newly married and in her mid-thirties, she is ready and able to start her family, but with each monthly reminder that conception has alluded her she grows more despondent. There is something unbalanced in the world when some who never intended to become mothers conceive easily and without preparation while others struggle. If you have gone through IVF or know someone who has, you can relate to this.

Our lectionary today takes us to a woman well past child-bearing years who was promised that she would bear a son. It had been her life-long dream to have a child, but old age and menopause had taken away any hope of that. Then God promised her that she would bear a son in her old age. I once heard a preacher joke that she was so old, her maternity bills were covered by Medicare.

In this part of the story, three angel-men have suddenly appeared to Abraham and Sarah in their desert home and repeat the promise:

Genesis 18:10-15 (The Message)

¹⁰ One of them said, “I’m coming back about this time next year. When I arrive, your wife Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was listening at the tent opening, just behind the man.

^11-12 Abraham and Sarah were old by this time, very old. Sarah was far past the age for having babies. Sarah laughed within herself, “An old woman like me? Get pregnant? With this old man of a husband?”

Note that Sarah laughed within herself. Also note that God heard her laugh. This is a reminder to us that God sees and knows us from the inside-out, and we might do well to guard our thoughts.

^13-14 God said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh saying, ‘Me? Have a baby? An old woman like me?’ Is anything too hard for God? I’ll be back about this time next year and Sarah will have a baby.”

Is anything too hard for God? What a beautiful reminder for those who feel let down, abandoned, and hopeless. God hears our deepest longings and gives to us what is good. But he does that in his time, not ours. It’s hard to wait, isn’t it?

¹⁵ Sarah lied. She said, “I didn’t laugh,” because she was afraid.

But he said, “Yes you did; you laughed.”

Sarah lied, but God did not renege on his promise. Sarah showed a lack of faith, but God was faithful to her anyway. Sarah responded in fear but God responded in the strength of his miracle.

Are you feeling despondent today? Take heart. God hears your prayers and is ready to respond with what is good, holy, righteous, and safe. We are never alone.

Is anything too hard for God? Nope.

Serenity by Kathy Schumacher