When God Makes You Laugh

“Sarah said, ‘God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears will laugh with me.’” – Genesis 21:6

I’m sure you’ve probably heard the famous statement, “God has a sense of humor.” Throughout the Bible, we see this, especially in stories like Abraham and Sarah’s. Imagine having a son at 90 years old! Many people can't even fathom having a child at 50. I know I couldn't! God specializes in the miraculous, defying human limitations with His divine power and manifesting His abilities in extraordinary ways. It's incredible to witness God at work, but sometimes, the process doesn't feel pleasant. 

I want to delve into the story of Abraham and Sarah concerning God’s promise to them of a Son. I believe this biblical story serves as a blueprint for God’s power at work in our lives, even when it seems unlikely and unbelievable. 

After decades of waiting, Abraham and Sarah receive an angelic encounter…

“Then one spoke up and said, “I will return about this time next year, when your wife Sarah will certainly have a son.” Sarah overheard it, for she was at the tent door not far behind him. Now, both Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. Sarah laughed to herself with disbelief, saying, “A woman my age—have a baby? After I’m worn out will I now enjoy marital bliss and conceive —and with my aged husband?” Yahweh knew her thoughts and asked Abraham, “Why is Sarah laughing, saying, ‘How can a woman my age have a baby?’ Do you think there is anything too marvelous for Yahweh? I will appear to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son!’” – Genesis 18:10-14 TPT

It’s impossible to read this story without feeling a sense of relatability to Sarah. Imagine being in her position: God says what? You’re going to have a son? At such an old age? With an elderly husband? When was the last time we were even intimate? No way! Sarah laughed to herself in disbelief.

Has God ever told you something that made you laugh in disbelief? Perhaps it was a promise that you would be the first in your family to earn a degree, or that you would successfully launch a business, or that you would get married, or that you would spread His Word to the nations. While I may not know what that specific promise is for you, we all have moments when God has spoken to us in ways that seem unbelievable. It might have been something that, like for Sarah, once felt within reach, but now feels overdue for manifestation.

If Sarah had overheard these Angels at 40 or even 60 years old, she might have entertained the idea. However, at almost 90 years old, with a husband nearing 100, it's humanly impossible.

Isn’t it amazing that the Bible says, “Yahweh knew her thoughts…” God didn’t disqualify the miracle because of her disbelief. Her thoughts didn't scare God. He affirmed that He would do what He said anyway. There are areas of your life where doubt may creep in. After waiting for so long for something you desire, it can start to feel impossible. You may remember a promise that God made about your life, but after so many years and your mistakes, you might wonder how God could still fulfill it. For instance, Sarah made a mistake by allowing her husband to have a son with her servant Hagar.

God’s response, through the Angels, to Sarah’s disbelief was the question, “Do you think there is anything too marvelous for Yahweh? In other versions, we famously quote, “Do you think anything is too hard for God?” Absolutely not! However, sometimes, like Sarah, it's hard to believe it.

This past weekend, I went to the beach with friends. During our group Bible study, I began pondering an idea in my journal. God is so vast and commands every aspect of the universe, from the mountains to the sea and the sky. If God can manage the entire universe, why do I doubt His ability to manage my life? There hasn’t been a day when God has failed to uphold the universe, so why do I ever believe He’ll fail on my account? I think it's time to begin believing Him, despite the doubts and timelines.

Sarah went from laughing in disbelief to laughing in divine fulfillment!

“The Lord came to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time God had told him.” – Genesis 21:1-2

“Sarah said, ‘God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears will laugh with me.’” – Genesis 21:6

The Lord did for Sarah what He had promised. The Lord did for Morgan what He had promised. May the Lord do for you what He has promised! 

There was an appointed time for what God promised to come to pass. I believe that the God who has time in His hands knows how to appoint our miracles and wonders in a kairos moment. It’s possible that what you were experiencing wasn’t a delay, but rather awaiting an appointed time of manifestation. The joy and laughter Sarah experienced at this moment took away the bitter tears and broken heart of waiting all those decades. God can allow laughter to seal away the pain and unleash the pure joy of fulfillment!

God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears will laugh with me! May God cause you to laugh! 

You may have been waiting a long time, but surely, at the appointed time, God will fulfill His Word concerning your life. We serve the God of ANSWERED PRAYERS! 

Learning to Lean into Laughter

In obtaining your miracle, you must:

1. Understand your part in the miraculous!

Although God made a promise, it was up to Abraham and Sarah to put the promise into practice. God only impregnated Mary by the Holy Spirit. Abraham and Sarah had to apply their faith by becoming intimate again. 

In Genesis 18, in laughing to herself, Sarah questioned her ability to experience marital bliss and conceive when she factored in the age of her husband. I’m sure this implied they weren’t sexually active for a long time by then, which is quite normal in elderly age. God was stretching their faith. For God to answer, they needed to believe enough to be intimate. Sarah initially laughed in disbelief, but she gained enough faith from the words she heard to reconnect with her husband.

My question for you is, what role do you play in making your miracle come to pass? Of course, God will do it! But what is your part? Do you need to reach out to someone? Do you need to do some research? Should you get your finances in order? Should you seek advice from wise counsel? What exactly is your contribution?

I believe that as you take that step of obedience, God's grace will amplify your efforts, and He will remember you. However, remember that not all miracles happen spontaneously. While nothing is too hard for God, He won't do your part for you. Understand your role in the miraculous, and most importantly, take action!

2. Behold your Isaac!

In the words of Nathaniel Bassey, “What you have waited for has come to pass, see what the Lord has done!” Behold your miracle. Lean into the goodness that is divine fulfillment. Surely what God has said came to pass, now take hold of it! When God fulfills His Word in your life, all you can do is laugh! 

Abraham and Sarah needed to see Isaac before they could behold him. You must believe in order to behold. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). You may not see it yet, but you will. When you finally do, take hold of it and never let go!

Allow the miracle to be what you stand on to testify to others and encourage their faith. Sarah said everyone who hears will laugh with me. How can they hear if you don’t share? Testify and allow others to laugh with you at the goodness of God!

I’ve noticed that everyone in the Bible who had a specific name for God, such as Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Nissi, and Jehovah Rapha, first experienced an encounter with Him. The names we know and rely on are based on the testimonies of those who witnessed the joy God brought into their lives through His fulfillment. Sometimes, God will allow the miracle to tarry so you can encounter a new version of Him. What version of God have you been experiencing in this season? 

My prayer for you is that God would make you laugh. May you behold your Isaac. You have to see it before you see it! If you’ve encountered the God who answers prayer already, I pray this would be an everyday desire and occurrence. May God never cease in remembering you and causing you to experience His miracles! May He cause all who hear to laugh with you about the wondrous things He’s doing in your life. Surely, God will make your life a sign and a wonder – a banner of divine fulfillment and miraculous power! In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen!

Scriptures to Cherish on Laughter

• “Thanksgivings will pour out of the windows; laughter will spill through the doors. Things will get better and better. Depression days are over. They'll thrive, they'll flourish. The days of contempt will be over.” – Jeremiah 30:19 MSG

• “He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.” – Job 8:21 NIV

• “We laughed and laughed and overflowed with gladness. We were left shouting for joy and singing your praise. All the nations saw it and joined in, saying, ‘The Lord has done great miracles for them!’” – Psalms 126:2 TPT