Destination faith: Laughter
Some say that laughter is good medicine. Doesn’t it feel good to laugh? There is nothing like laughing until your belly begins to hurt and your eyes are watering. It makes all of life’s problems seem to melt away. No question, laughing is good. But what about scoffing?
Scoffing is laughing to yourself in disbelief about something that seems too good to be true like Abraham and Sarah laughing to themselves about God giving them a son at the ripe old ages of 90 and 99. In Genesis 17, God reminds Abraham that a promised son is coming through his wife Sarah. Abraham, prostrate on the ground laughs and to himself saying, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” Then in chapter 18, Sarah, listening to the conversation between God and Abraham, hears God tell her husband that in a year he will be a father and Sarah a physical mother. Sarah’s reply? She laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
I love God’s reply, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” If Abraham knew anything, he knew that God was able. Was Abraham doubting God? Maybe. Remember it was 24 years ago when God first promised him descendants. So when God’s timing came due, Abraham may have thought God was able but wondered if he was? I wonder if he may have doubted himself? I find this to be true for me; that when God calls me to something, I sometimes doubt if I am up to the challenge. But God doesn’t doubt me for a second. Because it is all Him. I am only working through His strength, knowledge, abilities, timing, etc…
Wow! Did you catch that? Though I may doubt myself, He never doubts me… when it is His calling on my life. It is the same for you. So, who is calling you to whatever your doing in your life, is it working out? When Abram and Sarai moved on their own strength with Hagar, separate from God, it failed. But God’s plans never fail. This will become more obvious in a couple weeks. Stay tuned.
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:39 am
Isn’t it reassuring to know that God is in control, and no matter we try to do on our own, and fail, God’s plans NEVER fail. Remember to vote tomorrow, and pray before you do.
November 5th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
You’re a great writer, man. Keep up the good work!
November 26th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
I so appreciate the sentence: “Though I may doubt myself, He never doubts me…” For me personally, that is hard to swallow. We are, in fact, compared to sheep. Not so smart, dull thinking (at times), stubborn, wanting to go it alone (all by ourselves). And yet He doesn’t doubt us. (?) That is amazing! And it gives me renewed hope. I am Thankful, thankful for the confidence God places in us.