Sarai believed that it was God who kept her and her husband Abram from having children (Genesis 16:2). Whether her words came from humble adoration or from human frustration, Sarai declared that God was in control. Considering the fact that God had appointed a time for her to have a child (Genesis 21:1-2) she was right in what she believed. The problem comes later in life when she chooses to hold on to this belief while rejecting God’s promise that she would one day have a son.
Yes, God was in control as Sarai and Abram grew old together without the blessing of children. God was still in control when, during a stopover on His way to see Sodom for Himself, the LORD promised that Sarai (at that point having had her name changed to Sarah) would have a son. While it seemed easy for Sarai to believe that God had kept her from having children, Sarah laughed at the idea that God would allow her to have a son in her old age. She chose to believe that God was in control when she could blame Him for her circumstances but when asked to believe what was a seemingly impossible blessing, Sarah could only laugh.
It would be nice if we could choose the things that are easy to believe while ignoring those promises that are more difficult to hold onto but doing so would keep us from growing in the Lord. Like Sarah you might be tempted to laugh or even run from God’s more “difficult” promises. You may even try to help as Sarah did when she suggested that Abram have a child with Hagar. The best path is always the path of faith, even when God’s words are difficult to believe in. Choose to believe what God says He will do in your life and remind yourself that He always keeps His promises.
See also When Faith Becomes Difficult
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