It’s one of those penetrating questions. Not a complicated question . . . in fact, the answer is sort of a no-brainer. However, the implications of the answer are such that it gives occasion to pause and reflect . . . to consider the implications of the answer . . . to noodle on what difference the answer makes if I were to truly believe the answer.

I’m reading in Genesis 18 this morning. Though God has long ago promised Abraham and Sara they would have a son . . . nothing! Though God has covenanted to provide Abraham with descendants beyond counting, so far, not one. Time passes . . . and no “tummy” forms on Sara. They get so desperate trying to figure out how God is going to fulfill His promise that they take matters into their own hands, Sara insisting that Abraham father a child through her maidservant, Hagar . . . bad idea.

So, in Genesis 18, the Lord appears to Abraham for the express purpose of hand-delivering a post-dated birth announcement, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son” (18:10). Sarah’s eavesdropping outside the tent . . . hears the conversation . . . and laughs. Not laughs as in “Wow! This is great! Ha, ha, ha . . . who would have thunk!” No, she laughs as in, “Yeah? Really? Heh, heh. Not only am I past my prime . . . I’m past my secondary . . . and tertiary, as well. Menopause is but a faint memory. And Abraham’s no spring chicken himself. Really? Will I really know the joy of bearing a child? You’ve got to be kidding. Heh, heh, heh.”

You can’t blame her. Time has a way of eroding “the dream”. At some point you just need to get real. Cue the question . . . time to get unreal!

The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” (Genesis 18:13-14 ESV)

That’s the question that caught my attention this morning . . . “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” Not a lot of choices when it comes to potential answers . . . I’m thinking just two. Not a lot of choices, really, if God is God . . . I’m thinking just one. So why’s it even necessary to ask the question?

Because sometimes it’s a struggle for a barren woman to connect the promises of God with the empty crib in the baby’s tent. Because sometimes its hard to wait on God’s timing when we have our own ideas of how things should play out. Because sometimes, while we believe nothing’s too hard for God, we don’t really believe God wants to act. Because sometimes we just want to lean to our own understanding. And so, though maybe not out loud like Sarah, we snicker to ourselves and say, “Really?”

That’s when we need to be reminded of the question . . . that’s when we need to stop obsessing over ourselves and our situation and re-focus on the LORD . . . that’s when we need the Spirit to ask us again, “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” And that’s when we need to say firmly, “No!” Nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). With God all things are possible (Matt. 19:26). “For all the promises of God find their Yes in [Christ]. That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for His glory” (2Cor. 1:20).

God is able . . . period. As to His purposes . . . His timing . . . those I need to leave to a God for Whom nothing is too hard. And then, by His grace, I can laugh . . . laugh with joy . . . laugh with wonder . . . laugh knowing that I can trust in the Lord, acknowledging Him in all my ways, confident He will direct my paths.

Is anything too hard for God? The answer is . . . ?