(This is what I imagine Sarah would have written in her journal while she waited on the fulfillment God’s promise. This may not be 100% dead-on accurate as far as ages and times, but I think it’s somewhat close)

Age 20– Married to a wonderful man. Abraham is as kind and gentle a husband as a wife could want, but my heart aches for a child. Lord, please send me a son.

Age 30– More and more I see other wives who have been abundantly blessed with so many children and still I have none. I am ashamed that I still haven’t given Abraham a son.

Age 40– I pretend that Abraham and I are happy and that we are content with being childless. Even Abraham doesn’t know that I cry myself to sleep some nights. I still dream about the son that might have been.

Age 50– It’s hard to celebrate the birth of grandchildren for others when I have given up hope for any children for us. Life goes on and I take it one day at a time. Getting through the day is all I can do these days.

Age 60– There is no more hurt or pain. I don’t feel anything anymore. Just a dull ache and an empty void. Yes, God is enough. He will always be enough. It’s just so hard to have  your dreams crushed.

Age 70– Could it really be that God promised Abraham a nation through us? Did he really say we would have a son? The tiniest spark of hope rises out of the ashes of former dreams.

Age 80– Maybe we heard wrong. I tried to help God out with Hagar, but that turned out disastrously. God, if this is to happen, it has to be you. I can’t be disappointed again. I just can’t. I don’t think I would survive it this time.

Age 90– I am holding 8 pounds of impossible in my arms. Beyond my last hopes and from this dead body, God brought life. My God is a God for whom the impossible is not even remotely difficult. No one is ever too far gone or too past hope for God to see and reach. At the last possible moment in the darkest hour, God did what He does best. He comes through.

When you’re dreams seem past salvaging and your hopes seem like a joke, remember that God is the God of the 90-year old with the newborn child. Nothing is impossible for this God. Nothing.