Dandelion Bible in a Year | Women & Men Thematic Reading Plan

Bible in a Year - Women’s Thematic Reading Plan | Day 9

Genesis 18:1-15: Sarah, Laughing in Unbelief

Day 9 of the Women’s Bible Plan: Read Genesis 18:1-15 and reflect on Sarah’s laughter when she heard God’s promise. This devotional invites women to consider how God’s promises go beyond human impossibility, and how His faithfulness remains steady even when our faith feels weak. Through Sarah’s story, we are reminded that God sees our hidden doubts, understands our weary hearts, and is able to do what seems impossible in His perfect time.

🌸 Dear Sister, welcome to Day 9 of our reading journey 🌸

Some waiting begins with hope, but over time slowly turns into silence. Some prayers are once spoken with tears, but after many years, we may no longer dare to mention them. We may still believe that God is good, yet quietly stop believing that this particular thing could still happen. We may still worship Him, yet secretly place certain hopes away in a hidden corner of the heart.

Sarah was in that kind of place when she heard God’s promise again. She was old. Her body seemed far beyond the possibility of bearing a child. The hope she had once carried appeared to have expired long ago. So when she heard the words, “Sarah thy wife shall have a son,” she laughed within herself.

It was not simply a laugh of joy. It was the laughter of a woman who had waited long, hurt deeply, and learned to protect herself from disappointment.

But God did not ignore that laughter. He heard it. And He answered with a question that still speaks to every weary heart today:

“Is any thing too hard for the LORD?”

JANUARY 9 / Day 9

Sarah: Laughing in Unbelief

📖 Genesis 18:1-15

A Minute of Grace

In Genesis 18:1-15, Abraham welcomes three visitors near the plains of Mamre. What first appears to be an ordinary act of hospitality becomes a holy moment, as the Lord once again confirms His promise: Sarah will have a son at the appointed time.

This time, the promise is not only heard by Abraham. Sarah hears it too, standing at the tent door behind him. Yet her first response is not a shout of faith, but a hidden laugh. She looks at her age, her body, the passing years, and the impossibility of the situation. Sarah had heard the promise before, but she had waited so long that hope itself seemed hard to hold.

God, however, does not withdraw His promise because of Sarah’s weakness. He does not abandon His plan because of her hidden doubt. Instead, He brings her back to the center of faith with one searching question: “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?”

That question was not only for Sarah. It is also for every woman who has grown tired in waiting, every heart that has quietly stopped hoping, and every believer who stands before a situation that seems too late, too difficult, or too impossible.

Today’s theme, “Sarah: Laughing in Unbelief,” reminds us that growing in faith does not mean we never struggle with doubt. It means that even in our doubt, God’s Word can awaken us again. Faith is not waiting until everything looks possible before we believe. Faith is learning, even at the end of human strength, to look again at the faithfulness and power of God.

Whispers for the Heart

1 When Sarah heard the promise, she immediately thought of her age and the impossibility of her situation. Is there any area of your life where you have thought, “It is too late,” “It is impossible,” or “That door has already closed”? How have those thoughts shaped the way you trust God?

2 Sarah laughed within herself. No one else may have heard it, but God did. Are there hidden disappointments, doubts, bitter smiles, or guarded places in your heart that you have not spoken aloud? Are you willing to bring them honestly before the Lord?

3 God asked, “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” Where do you need to let this question enter your life today? Your marriage? Family? Children? Health? Ministry? Relationships? Future? A prayer you have nearly stopped praying?

As you read Genesis 18:1-15 today, do not be afraid to admit where your faith feels small. Do not rush to cover your disappointment with spiritual words. God knew Sarah’s laughter, and He knows our weakness too. Yet His promise is not limited by human impossibility, and His faithfulness is not canceled by our hesitation.

Take a quiet moment before you begin. Bring before the Lord the places where you no longer dare to hope, and let His Word meet you there.

Today's Grace · Morning Dew 🕊️

“Is any thing too hard for the LORD?”

— Genesis 18:14

Today’s verse turns our eyes away from the question, “Can I?” and brings us to the deeper question, “Can God?” Sarah saw age, delay, and impossibility. But God reminded her that the fulfillment of His promise did not depend on human strength. It depended on His own faithfulness and power. When reality tempts us to give up hope, this question gently awakens faith again: human possibility may come to an end, but God’s work is never limited by what seems impossible to us.

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🪕 Response Hymn: Look Up

Genesis 18 ( KJV)

18 And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.

7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.

8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.

10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

13 And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

A Quiet Moment of Prayer

✨ Thank you for walking through today’s Scripture with us, dear sister.

Genesis 18:1-15 shows us that when God’s promise came to Sarah, she did not respond with perfect faith. She laughed within herself before what seemed humanly impossible. Yet God did not give up on her. Instead, He brought her back to the heart of faith with one question: “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” Now, let us bring our delayed hopes, hidden disappointments, and impossible situations before the Lord in prayer.

Today’s Prayer Focus: Believing God’s Promise in the Face of Human Impossibility

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Bringing Hidden Doubts Before God

“Father, thank You for reminding me through Sarah’s story that You hear not only my spoken prayers, but also the hidden laughter, doubts, disappointments, and weariness in my heart. Lord, I confess that there are places where I have waited so long, prayed so long, and been disappointed so deeply that I no longer dare to hope as I once did.

Help me not to hide my small faith behind silence. Help me not to protect myself with a bitter smile. Teach me to come honestly before You with the thoughts that say, ‘It is too late,’ ‘It is impossible,’ or ‘It will never happen.’ Please use Your Word to lift my faith again. Remind me that my weakness does not stop Your faithfulness, and my hesitation does not cancel Your promise. Amen.”

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Looking to God’s Power in Impossible Places

“Lord, Sarah saw her age and the limitations of her body, but You saw Your appointed time and Your faithful promise. Teach me, when reality feels heavy and answers seem delayed, not to look only at my own strength, conditions, or limitations, but to lift my eyes to You.

When I face broken relationships, family burdens, concerns for my children, physical weakness, ministry struggles, or uncertainty about the future, place this question deep in my heart: ‘Is any thing too hard for the LORD?’ Do not let me use faith as a way to escape reality, but teach me to trust You within reality. You are greater than my circumstances. Your promise is more reliable than my feelings. Your timing is wiser than my understanding. Amen.”

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Interceding for Sisters

“Father, I pray today for the sisters around me who are still waiting. You know those who are waiting for change in marriage, healing in family relationships, answers for their children, strength in their bodies, direction in work, fruit in ministry, or hope for the future. Some may look strong on the outside, yet inwardly feel tired, discouraged, or afraid to hope again.

Lord, draw near to them. Comfort them in the places where their sighs are too deep for words. Let them know that You have not forgotten them, and You have not overlooked the tears of their long waiting. Help us become gentle companions to one another. Keep us from offering shallow words or simply telling others to ‘have more faith.’ Instead, teach us to pray, wait, weep, and hope together before the God for whom nothing is too hard. Amen.”

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Praying for a World Facing the Impossible

“Compassionate Father, I pray for this world where so many people live under the weight of impossible circumstances. Many are suffering through war, poverty, sickness, family brokenness, injustice, and long oppression. Many see no way forward and no reason to believe tomorrow can be different. Mothers weep for their children. Families struggle through loss. The weak and vulnerable carry pain in silence.

Lord, show Your mercy and power in places where human strength has come to an end. Bring peace where there is violence. Bring healing where there is deep brokenness. Comfort those who suffer, and make Your Church a living witness of hope. Do not let us grow numb because the world’s pain is so great. Do not let us stop praying because the problems seem too large. May the question, ‘Is any thing too hard for the LORD?’ become the foundation of our intercession for the world. Amen.”

🪕 Response Hymn: Look Up

💡 Closing Thought · Hope Beyond the Impossible

As we finish Genesis 18:1-15, we may recognize something of ourselves in Sarah’s hidden laughter. She was not a woman who knew nothing of God. She had heard His promise before. But she had waited so long that reality seemed louder than hope. Many times, we are the same. We may say that we believe, while quietly placing certain hopes out of reach.

As we turn this page and return to daily life, some unanswered prayers may still remain before us. Some relationships may still be unchanged. Some doors may still seem closed. Some situations may still look impossible. But today’s Scripture reminds us that faith does not deny reality. Faith asks again, in the middle of reality: “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?”

May this question become a lamp within your heart today. When something feels too late, too difficult, or too impossible, may you see not only your own limits, but also God’s faithfulness. May you hear not only the voice of circumstance, but also the voice of His promise. The end of human possibility is not always the end of the story. In God’s hands, even the laughter of unbelief can one day be transformed into the joy of fulfilled promise.

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