Impossible Possibilities

There is nothing that puts a bigger smile on my face than this truth: “All things are Possible with God!” (Matthew 19:26)

I know that many of us are facing obstacles that seem insurmountable. Some are contemplating problems that appear unsolvable. Others are heartbroken as they pray for loved ones that seem unreachable.

But let’s consider Jeremiah’s words:

Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. (Jeremiah 32:17)

I think “Impossible” is God’s favorite venue because that’s where we see His miraculous possibilities emerge.

Have you ever just opened your Bible and said, “Lord, show me where you did something impossible.”

We would immediately find our faith ignited as the Most High God speaks the universe into existence with displays of intricate creativity and unfathomable knowledge. Then we’d find our hearts racing as we journey with the Israelites in their great escape from the Egyptian army. We’d watch with breathless anticipation as God miraculously creates a roadway through an impassable body of water just in the nick of time and then destroys the advancing enemy army. Our hope is stirred as we imagine Daniel’s unprecedented rescue from ravenous lions. The faith-strengthening examples go on and on.

Don’t you just love it when God takes you to those places where there’s no possible way out and then leaves us in astounded wonder as The One and Only stretches out His powerful arm and accomplishes what only He can?

One of my favorite “Only God …” moments involves Gideon, an unlikely hero who faced insurmountable odds. (Judges 7)

The best part of this entire story is the way God reduces the size and power of Gideon’s army: from 32,000 men armed with deadly weapons to a paltry 300 men wielding only trumpets, torches and clay jars. Keep in mind, this tiny band of creatively-armed men were going up against a highly trained and heavily armed enemy with numbers so vast they couldn’t even be counted.

Don’t you just love it? Can you even imagine a more impossible scenario?

But why does God’s battle plan involve such impossible odds? He explains: “In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her …”

God loves to orchestrate these against-all-odds scenarios because that’s where His jaw-dropping rescues reveal His vast, unlimited power. God simply wants to remind us that He is worthy of our utmost trust.

What if impossible scenarios stirred us to greater faith? What if we chose to arm ourselves with God’s Word and stand resolutely on His promises? What if we bravely surrendered our own plans and strength and followed Jesus with child-like faith into our own victories?

Nothing is too hard for You, Jesus!