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Listen while you read: "Revive Us Again"1
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One of the joys of grandparenting is that the parents need a babysitter. We get the call, and in an instant, a sleepover is arranged at our house. Several weekends ago, I was up early with my five-year-old grandson making breakfast, pouring a bowl of shredded wheat. Then, I put a few strawberries on top to brighten the cereal.
My grandson held up one of the strawberries and asked me, "Do you know what a sad strawberry looks like?" I didn't know what he was talking about, and I had not yet had my coffee. In a fog, I just said, "No, what does a sad strawberry look like?" With a big smile on his face, he said, "A blueberry. Get it? Blue berry!"
He was in hysterics, and as I began to laugh, he laughed all the harder. He got me!
Sarah had the same response when the Lord promised her a son.
Genesis 18:11-12 – Abraham and Sarah were very old. Since Sarah was past the age when women normally have children, she laughed to herself, "My husband and I are too old to have a baby." (NCV)
When have you last heard from God? Have you ever heard from God? Within the circle of faith, we talk about prayer as having a conversation with God. We consider prayer a form of communication. Yet, often it is one way. We tend to do all the talking.
Think for a moment about Sarah and Abraham. Both were old. Sarah was beyond childbearing age. Then, they heard from God. Sarah was to have a son — Sarah: barren, eighty years old! Sarah laughed to herself.
Sometimes, God gets our attention with a surprise, where we laugh at ourselves and at our vulnerability. God's message can be disarming, internally exposing us, as we recognize not only our own limitations, but become profoundly aware, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14a (NCV)
The Word from God transforms our spiritual lives from doubt to faith, from offending God to praising God for the gift of God's Son Who is credible and present, and Who simply but profoundly invites us, "Come follow me, and I will make you fish for people." (Mark 1:17 NCV)
When have you last heard from God? It can begin with a laugh. Just ask Sarah.
Prayer: Almighty God, the psalmist tells us that when You rescued the exiles, "Then we were filled with laughter" (Psalm 126:2a NCV). We hear the message from Jesus, "You people who are now crying are blessed, because you will laugh with joy." (Luke 6:21b NCV) And then, there is Sarah who laughed when she was told that she would have a son. Can it be so? Tell us again and again that with You, the impossible is possible. Remind us to hold on always to our visions and dreams, because our hope is ultimately in You, and our expectation is in Your divine presence, which has been made known to us in Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
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About the author:
Robin Jennings <robintjennings@gmail.com>
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Send your feedback to the author
Thanks for the inspiring words, Robin.
Amen Robin.
Blessings.
Excellent Daily Devotional! Thanks Robin,
(BC Canada)
Thank you, Robin, for your encouragement today. We hope to hear from you again.
Good morning, Robin.
Thank you for your good words this morning.
Blessings.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us today. God used you to put a smile on my face. Blessings.
I wanted to say how nice it was. It’s my favourite part of my day reading these. I read each and every one. I may not always write to say so, but It brings a lot of joy to my life.
Good morning, Robin,
I did not know the reply to your grandson’s joke. I did enjoy your devotional and do know when God is in my life and my focus, I laugh more. Thanks for sharing. Blessings.
Well, Robin, your grandson is pretty smart for a five-year-old! And you can tell him he made me laugh as well.
Thank you for writing today…good reminder.
(Texas)
Thanks, Robin, for your encouraging devotional today and sharing that sweet interaction with your grandson. Reading God’s word can give us a variety of reactions but listening to and following His word is very profitable to our daily lives with results of joy, peace, and positivity.
Blessings for this special writing.
What a wonderful way to start my day! So many things that have seemed impossible in the past have indeed proved possible. People all through the ages have gone through terrible times and faith has pulled them through.
Let us learn to laugh like Sarah when we see what good can come out of what appears hopeless.
Daily we pray for God’s guidance; sometimes a surprise is His answer.
Thank you, Robin. This reminds me of something John Ortberg wrote: Sarah and Abraham were the only couple who shopped for Depends and diapers at the same time. Seriously, though, I think I would have cried instead of laughed. I’m learning to hear God’s messages everywhere.