The God of joy - Abraham and Sarah

    In Genesis Chapter 12, God instructs Abraham, formerly Abram, to leave his country and his father’s household and to go to the land He would direct him to. He promised to make him a great nation, that his name would be blessed and that he would be blessed and be a blessing to others. Abraham was seventy-five years old when God spoke to him.
    The problem was that Abraham’s wife, Sarah, was barren and she was past child-bearing age. God, however, promised Abraham that his offspring would inherit the land of Canaan to which He was directing him. Abraham and Sarah had no idea how God was going to do it. They even tried to make God’s Word come to pass through Sarah’s handmaiden, Hagar. Hagar was able to bear Abraham a son, but God did not accept this child as the child of promise. God was going to do the impossible through his wife, Sarah, and cause her to bear a child in her old age. 
    Twenty-five years after His promise, Sarah, at ninety years old, gave birth to her first-born son, Isaac. God did what was impossible for man to do. 
    At the time God spoke to Abraham, both he and his wife had most likely already given up on the thought of having children. They were both advanced in age and were probably simply content with their situation. Have you ever been in a situation where things were not working out the way you had hoped and planned and you simply became comfortable with how things were? You were past the stage of disappointment, even past the stage of hope and you simply chose to be content. Abraham and his wife were most likely not even thinking about children anymore. And then, God came on the scene. 
    What I find interesting is that God chose a barren couple to fulfil His will. He could have chosen a couple, much younger in age and able to easily have children. But He did not. God chose an impossible situation to do an impossible thing. You may look at your life and at your situation and all you see is the “impossible.” You can’t see yourself past your limitations and challenges. But here’s the thing - God can take all that you are not and do something great and excellent with it. When people may look at you and also see what’s impossible, God does not see the way man sees. God is able to do amazing things with an ordinary life, amazing things with a broken life, amazing things with a life that doesn’t seem to have much to offer. Here’s the key - God can do it!
    But the key thing with this story is the fact that God can bring joy out of unexpected situations. When we’re not looking for it, when we’re not expecting it, God can bring joy through unexpected miracles and blessings. That’s the God we serve. God delights in putting a smile on our face and joy in our hearts. He delights to do what He knows we can’t do on our own. Imagine Sarah’s joy at being able to produce life when she thought that this opportunity was gone. Imagine her joy at no longer being negatively labeled by society because of barrenness. Imagine her joy at the fact that what God had promised, He had brought to pass … not them! They couldn’t do it but they had connected with a God who could!    
    Yet, it doesn’t stop there. They named their son “Isaac” which means “laughter.” And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh and all who hear will laugh with me.” She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.” (Genesis 21:6-7) Imagine here Sarah’s joy that she was able to provide a child for her husband and not have to rely on anyone else to do it for him. God sees the secret pain and disappointment of our hearts that no one else sees. 
    Yes, God is love but He is also joy, turning impossible situations around thus bringing joy to our hearts and lives. As I love to say, God sees, God hears, God knows and He will answer when we least expect it and in ways we least expect. Be encouraged!
    If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so today. God delights in replacing our sorrow with joy, in sending unexpected blessings our way. He loves us and has a beautiful plan for our lives. Just trust Him!  

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