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“But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh, for she was afraid. And He said, “No but you did laugh!” Genesis 18:15 (NKJV)

We’ve all been there when our response or our actions spoke louder than we dared admit. Whispered under our breath or thoughts dancing in our minds evidenced on our face. There are simply some things that rise to the surface even if we don’t want them to. Learned this lesson the hard way in my early office worker years. Convinced I had put the copy repair technician on hold, I proceeded to tell my co-worker how difficult he was. Simply put, I spoke too long, too detailed and too unkind. Just when I got ready to regain my composure and take the technician off hold, he spoke. My closest thing to a near death experience. I literally wanted to crawl under my desk and never come out. There was no denying what my lips had spewed into the phone and room.

Denial never serves us well, even if for a moment we think we succeeded. Not owning up or simply dismissing the facts hitting us hard in the face won’t erase the truth. That’s exactly where we find Sarah in Genesis 18.

Caught off guard by God’s words to her husband, Sarah hovered in her tent listening to their conversation. The perceived truth of her aging post-menopausal body deepened laughter in her soul when she heard the promise of a child. Years had left her arms empty. Even the very thought of a resurrection of that dream perhaps appeared cruel to her aching heart. So instead of crying, she laughed, because the truth was too much to bear, too impossible and she couldn’t stand the thought of being disappointed again.

We’ve all navigated this path where the promise eludes us. And if we aren’t careful, we too will focus on the promise more than the promise keeper. God knew the ache in Sarah’s soul. He was fully aware of the passing of time that left Sarah’s body out of sync with childbirth. Yet, He delighted more in doing the impossible – proving His faithfulness even in the absence of proof.

Despite Sarah’s bold denial of her words and laughter, God assured her He sees and hears all. And just when we would have thought God would reign back in His promise, He choose instead to fulfill it.
‘Father help us to fully trust You rather than simply crave our promise. Helps to remember that nothing is too hard or impossible for You.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life