What question do you think God might ask you today that could help you tap into a deeper well of emotions?
What question would restore you from failure or realign you to His purpose?
Maybe you don’t know the questions, but He does.
9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent,” he said. 10 Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” 13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.” (Genesis 18 v 9-15)
Let’s look at these questions in more detail.
- Where is your Sarah?
25 years previously, Abraham had failed his wife, Sarah, miserably. In a blind panic, he denied she was his wife, saying she was his sister. How could a husband do that, and do it twice? It was a failure, a wound that time hadn’t fully healed.
But God doesn’t abandon our broken places. What is your “Sarah”? What promise have you stopped looking at because the waiting has worn you down? God hasn’t forgotten.
- Why did she laugh?
Sarah laughed to herself. But God heard it. He always does. He exposed what she thought was hidden.
I can imagine God saying this in the question: “A few days ago, on the day of your circumcision, when I was blessing your wife, you laughed to yourself, I saw it! Sarah is copying you. I want to correct you, to realign you, your leadership of her is not good, you have not been a good example with this.”
- Is anything too hard for the Lord?
This is the question that still echoes through every Christmas carol, every nativity scene, every moment we pause to remember Bethlehem.
It’s the ultimate pincer question. Only two possible answers exist:
Yes = Then He is not really Lord at all, is He?
No = Then there is nothing—absolutely nothing—you cannot trust Him for.
A virgin birth? Not too hard. Redemption for all humanity through one humble birth? Not too hard. Hope for the hopeless, sight for the blind, life for the dead? None of it is too hard.
What is it for you?
This Christmas, in a circumstance, a conversation, or even a quiet moment of reflection, you might face a question that spurs you toward great days ahead. Don’t be afraid of it. Don’t hide behind the tent flap or lie about your laughter. Let God ask what He needs to ask.
Because the same God who visited Abraham’s tent visited Mary’s womb, the same voice that asked about Sarah announced to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”
Is anything too hard for the Lord?
The manger answers with a resounding no.
And that changes everything.
Missions Paul 