The Laugh: The Space Between What God Says and What I Want

When Sarah Laughed at God (Genesis 18)

You know a story in the Bible that cracks me up?

Sarah in Genesis 18.

She laughs at God. Then God calls her out.

“Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, ‘I didn’t laugh.’

But the Lord said, ‘No, you did laugh.’” (Genesis 18:15)

Y’all. That is a check yourself moment if I’ve ever seen one.

The Context We Can’t Ignore

Okay, context. Sarah and her husband Abraham have wanted a child for a LONG time, and it hasn’t happened. At this point, they are old. And wrinkled.

The Lord visits Abraham, and Sarah is, of course, spying in the background, as any wife would. She hears the visitors say, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!” (Genesis 18:10).

And Sarah laughs.

Quietly. But still… she laughs. I always say God has a sense of humor.

Not a loud, obnoxious laugh, but a chuckle to herself. She’s thinking, I am old. How in the world could this worn-out woman have a child? And have you seen my husband? He is ancient. Bless Abraham, she calls him old, too. She’s on a roll.

God Calls Her Out (And It Gets Awkward)

This is where it gets good.

The Lord asks Abraham why Sarah laughed. The Lord Himself. Calls. Her. Out.

And hang tight, because the tea gets hotter.

Sarah says, Nope, Lord, I didn’t laugh.

And the Lord responds, “No, you did laugh.”

Ummm… note to self: never lie to the Lord.

Can you imagine? First, you laugh at God. Then you get caught lying to Him. And called out. I would have melted into the floor by this point. Awkward!

Why This Story Still Hits

We can read this story and think, Well, if the Lord told me something, I would never laugh or question it.

But y’all… we do this every day.

The Lord calls us to do something, and we say, Ha, that doesn’t make sense. Or No way! Or we ignore it and carry on with our own plans.

When God’s Answer Isn’t What You Want

Just this week, during my morning quiet time, I was asking God to help me know where I needed to focus in this season of rest. I wanted the juicy stuff.

What should I study?

Where should I serve?

What is my next career path?

And you know what God said?

Family first.

Now, when I say God said this, I don’t get the same visitors Sarah and Abraham did. God doesn’t show up in a robe with a deep voice saying, “Family first.”

It’s more like a God wink.

My mind is still. The world around me is quiet. And the thought floats in.

I remember thinking, God, you’ve got this wrong. Family is first. They’re already one of my core values. But where do I need to grow? Learn? Prepare for my next season?

And again, the answer came.

Family first.

I couldn’t unhear it.

Trusting God in the Space Between

All of this revealed a space between what I want and where God is calling me. He’s saying, Trust me. Prepare here.

While I want to stay focused on my “next thing,” He’s saying, Pam, prepare at home first. Then you’ll get your next assignment.

And to be clear, I’m not a mom who’s never present. I do put my family first often. But I’m also someone who can get so tied up in my own agenda that I forget to truly see the people right in front of me.

So I don’t know exactly what this means yet.

But it was a reality check.

Maybe it’s time to stop laughing at God.

Because He will call us out, and that could be quite awkward.