Is anything too hard for the LORD?

1 The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
3 He said, "If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant." "Very well," they answered, "do as you say."
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. "Quick," he said, "get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread."
7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.
9 "Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him. "There, in the tent," he said.
10 Then the LORD 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 old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master 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."

I was the Lay Reader at our 8:00 service this past Sunday and above is the scripture I was assigned to read. I had to laugh (like Sarah) when I received the schedule a few weeks earlier and I saw the scripture I was assigned to read. As some of you may know, my husband Jim and I have been unable to have children. For more years than I can remember my heart ached for a child. I would read the verses in 1 Samuel about Hannah and her prayer for a son. (1 Samuel 1: 11a, 20, 26b-27) Those verses are underlined and highlighted in my Bible, and there are tear stains on those pages as well. I would pray over those scriptures and hope.

Several friends asked me after service if it was difficult to read this portion of scripture. 5 years ago I would have had to say YES! I would have never been able to read these verses in private without crying, let alone stand at the pulpit and read them in front of my congregation. I would have only focused on the fact that the LORD was giving Sarah a child, but I did not have a child. As I look back now, I remember praying over those scriptures, but not totally believing that God would give me a child. I doubted Him. After many years of growing in my faith, I can now read this scripture and what stands out to me is verse 14: Is anything to hard for the Lord? I can say NO, nothing is too hard for my God. He healed my broken heart. Filled a place that I thought could only be filled by having a child of my own. He filled it with His awesome grace and also with many children (nieces, nephews, Godchildren, friend's children - as I shared in an earlier post) I now look back at the verses in 1 Samuel 1:26-27 ... I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. In His sovereignty, He has given me the gift to listen and see what His answers to prayer would be... I asked for a child and He gave me so many. Eventually I began asking to be healed - and He healed me! I am free from the bondage of sadness I felt in longing for a child. Would I have loved to experience a baby's first kick in my tummy, yes, raise a child up in the Lord, yes... but I would never want to miss the journey He took me on while He healed my heart. In Him I can stand in front of a congregation and read scripture that tells of His glory. I can type this story on a blog and share His glory. God is good sisters, there is nothing impossible or too difficult for our LORD! Turn it over to Him, let Him heal you and fill you up! He is the thrill of your life!