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Do you ever find yourself laughing at something God said or that He has asked you to do?
Not laughing with God – but actually laughing at the very words He said, or impressed on your heart?
No, you wouldn’t do that, would you? I mean, who laughs at God and gets away with it right?
Well, actually the Bible tells us in Genesis 18:12-15 that Sarah laughed at God, and although the Scripture doesn’t say that Zachariah laughed per se at the message the angel brought him about his soon to be born son, John the Baptist. However, I think in some way, his attitude was somewhat similar to Sarah’s.
This past Sunday as I was leading communion during church service, I felt like the Lord spoke a question to my heart in the early morning hours, which I was supposed to ask the congregation and myself. That question, was:
“Do you believe?”
Do we believe the words that God spoke in the Bible? Do we believe the very words Jesus spoke in the Bible? Do we believe the promises that God has spoken: to us, about us, and over us, about our destiny in Him?
- Or do we, laugh like Sarah did, when we think no one can hear us?
- Or maybe we are like Zachariah and ask questions with doubt and unbelief in our tone of voice?
- Or maybe, we are like the disciples and others that flat out laugh in His face?
During communion as I was sharing about Believing God when He speaks, He also led me to share Luke 8.
40 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.
As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,[c] but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”
46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”
47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”
50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”
51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.”
53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
Tweet ThisIn Luke 8, we see two different interactions with Jesus and people as He is on His way to minister healing. The first one was dealing with a women who had an issue of blood for 12 years. She pressed in like the rest of the crowd was doing, except she was doing so with intention. She had a purpose. She believed if she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment she would he healed. She did and she was!
However, Jesus asked who touched him. Now imagine you are walking with Jesus on the way to Jarius’ house. The Scriptures tell us the crowds were pressing in, so A LOT of people were probably touching Jesus. As a disciple what might your response be? “Oh come on Jesus, you can’t be serious. ‘Who touched you?!’ Uhm, everyone! It might be easier to say who didn’t touch you.” Maybe even some of the people laughed or thought it funny that Jesus even asked the question.
Then just a few verses later when Jesus arrives at Jairus’ house to heal his daughter – everyone is telling Jesus that He is no longer needed, that the girl is dead now. Then Jesus tells them “No, she isn’t dead, she’s just sleeping.’ This time scripture clearly states that they laughed at Jesus.
They didn’t believe Him.
There have been times in my life and ministry, where I clearly felt impressed by the Lord to do something, and I either didn’t believe I could, or I didn’t believe it was God prompting me. There have even been times when I have laughed like Sarah did, and simply said, “I think you have the wrong person God. I couldn’t possible do that!” Sadly, these are some of the times I regret that I didn’t stand in faith and believe the things He was showing me.
Answering the question, “Do You Believe?” is different for all of us. Maybe it’s:
- Do you believe in the promises of God for your life?
- Do you believe that He can heal you?
- Do you believe He can set you free?
- Do you believe that He is your provider?
- Do you believe God is for you?
- Do you believe He has a purpose for your life?
- Do you believe the truths in the Word of God?
- Or maybe it is simply Do you believe in Him at all?
For me on Sunday, the question was, “Debbie, do you believe the promises I have spoken to you? Do you believe Me (God) when I speak to you and ask you to do something? Even though you don’t understand why I am asking, do you trust me enough and believe me to step out and be obedient?”
Over the course of my life, there have been many times that I haven’t believed I was good enough, or the right person for the task at hand. I often would argue with God and let me just say, He always wins. Fear of failure or fear of what others would think of me get in the way of what God was asking of me. Sometimes, sadly, I have to admit I have actually laughed at God, scoffed sometimes, with an attitude of, I think you forgot who you were asking God. I can’t do these things you are asking of me.
Next week, I celebrate my 1 year Blogiversary and I have found myself doing some serious reflecting on the things God has asked/given me to do … and they all somehow seemed tied to the question: ‘‘Debbie, do you believe Me(God)? Do you believe Me more than your own fears, doubts, or unanswered questions? Debbie, do you Trust me enough that even when you don’t understand, you will respond as Mary did, ‘let it be to me according to your Word.’”
How about you?
- Have you laughed at God?
- Are you struggling to believe God for something?
- If so, it’s not too late to believe Him and take Him at His word.
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I want to believe in what God is telling me. It seems so impossible at times, I am like Sarah. He is faithful and loving though because He does His will in my life no matter my responses. I love Him. thanks for this encouraging post today!
Oh Mary, I am right there with you sister. But YES, God is faithful and loving and gives us mountains of grace… thanks for stopping by today.
Excellent message, Debbie! Did you mean Sarah and Abraham above, and also Zachariah and Elizabeth? Thanks for sharing with #SocialButterflySunday! Hope to see you link up again this week 🙂
Yes Kelly, that is exactly who I was talking about above, thanks for asking for clarification. I will see you again this next Sunday.
I totally thought of Sarah when I started reading this post – and she was blessed, despite it! Thanks for joining us at #FridayFrivolity this week and hope to see you again!
Lisa – Yes, Sarah was definitely blessed which gives me hope that even when I find myself in the same place, God will do the same for me as well. Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂
Debbie, I love this post. I think we all experience those times when God asks us specific questions to draw us closer. He questions our trust in Him. Do we believe Him? Will we rely on Him? He already knows the answer, so why would He ask? Perhaps we need to hear the answer coming from our own mouths! We need to be reminded what we believe and who we believe in! Thanks for sharing this at Soul Survival.
Thank you so much Alisa! You are so right, He already knows the answer when He asks the questions. Plus, you are so right, it does draw us closer to Him… I completely agree with your thoughts. I appreciate you stopping by today and sharing.
Thanks for sharing this, Debbie, and congratulations on your blog-adversary! It would be interesting to do a study on every time someone laughed AT God/Jesus… I think maybe there are different reasons to laugh, but all of them seem to reflect unbelief, as you indicated. Hmmm…
(I found you at Reflect link-up.)
Carole – Thank yo so much, I am so exited to be celebrating 1 year of having and faithful writing a blog post. I had never thought to do a complete study on who has laughed at God and why, but I bet we would be surprised by what we discover in the process. I am so glad you found me at Reflect today. Thank you for stopping by.
sometimes I giggle or chuckle at how far God has brought me – a different kind of laugh – one He gets a kick out of as well! next to you this am at TT.
Sue – I am sure God laughs with us too and I know I humor Him quite often hahaha – I often look back and laugh at what I was kicking and screaming about before and realize, I should just trust Him, until, I do the same thing again when I think what He is asking is to big. Thank goodness He loves us unconditionally. Blessings
“I often would argue with God and let me just say, He always wins.” Me too, Debbie, me too. Enjoyed this post and visiting from #RaRaLinkup today where we are neighbors.
Karlene – I am so very glad to hear I am not the only one! LOL thanks for visiting
Debbie, great post. Really thought provoking. Yes indeed God does always win. And Happy Blog-iVersary next week. Blessed to be your neighbor at Coffee for your Heart today.
Tara – thanks so much for stopping by and blessings to you as well. … why is it that I still argue even when I know He will win? hahaha – I’m working on it thought. Have an awesome day.
I recently read the story of Ananias and Saul/Paul conversion. This reminds me of Ananias response when God calls him- “Are you sure, God? You’re going to ask me to do that?”
Thanks for this encouragement that we can trust Him.
Once again…just what I needed to hear. I haven’t laughed at God, not intentionally. But I have doubted that things could work out without my meddling. I’m getting better about it, but I have to work on it more. I do believe, honest I do, but I guess by inserting myself into too much of the process that He would get the feeling that I don’t. How insulting. Thanks for the reminder, I don’t ever want God to feel as if I am laughing at Him. With Him? That’s a whole ‘nother story, isn’t it?
Nikki – I don’t intentionally laugh at Him either – but oh, have I doubted – and I am guilty of meddling too… we can work on not meddling together. 🙂 You are welcome for the reminder and thank you for stopping by today so share your thoughts.