How many times have we heard this advice: “Laughter is the best medicine?” Usually it’s at a difficult and trying moment when we’ve been surprised with disappointing news or some project we’ve been working on for weeks at work has suddenly fallen apart. And we don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

This is exactly where Abraham and Sarah find themselves when they are visited by some strangers, and their hidden hurt and disappointment of infertility are suddenly uncovered and exposed by a unexpected promise of a son. Abraham can’t say anything. The pain is so great. And Sarah just laughs.

That’s the way God’s promises can be in our lives. They can enter into the small crevices of our hurt and pain and suddenly bring hope, possibilities and new life. The question for us as we now take the second step of cultivating room for God’s promise, is whether we laugh or cry…or maybe a little bit of both.