God Of The Impossible

Genesis 16:21-19:38

God Of The Impossible

Is anything too hard for the Lord?
Genesis 18:14

Go Deep: It’s a rhetorical question, of course.  Obviously, by definition, the words “God” and “impossible” are completely incongruent.  That’s a no-brainer theologically.  If we accept the fact that God exists, and believe that he is the Sovereign Creator of everything, then our belief demands the same conclusion the prophet Jeremiah came to:

“O Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power.
Nothing is too difficult for you.” (Jeremiah 32:17)

But the question is, have we learned to lean into that God-reality when we come up against impossibilities in the gritty reality of our everyday lives?

Here in Genesis 18, God was making a point with Sarah, Abraham’s 90-year-old barren wife.  He had just revealed to these senior citizens that they would finally have the child he had promised to give them many years before, and understandably, this old woman chuckled at the thought. I suspect that in general, Sarah was completely on board theologically that nothing was too hard for the Lord.  But when it came down to her personal circumstance, suddenly Sarah’s faith grew weak in the knees.

My guess is you are no different than Sarah.  Me either!  I have no trouble believing in a God who created the universe out of nothing, who parted the Red Sea for the Israelites, who raised Jesus from death, and who will eventually turn all things for my good and his glory. (Romans 8:28)  It’s just in the everyday stuff of life that I often shrink back from ruthless trust, unwavering courage and unshakable faith.  I wish that weren’t the case, but too often, that’s the truth about me.

I’m out to change that about me—with God’s help.  Today I’m going to practice taking God at his word, trusting in his immutable character, and leaning his promises.  One day at a time that’s what I’m going to do, starting today, until I string enough days of industrial strength belief in the God of the impossible together that it has become the pattern of my life.

I love the story of a private in the army of the Greek general, Alexander the Great, who ran after and retrieved the general’s runaway horse.  When this lowly soldier brought the animal back, Alexander offered his appreciation by saying, “Thank you, Captain!”

With one word the private had been promoted.  When the general said it, the private believed it.  He immediately went to the quartermaster, selected a new captain’s uniform and put it on.  He went to the officer’s quarters and selected a bunk. Then he went to the officer’s mess and had a meal. Because the general had said it, the private took him at his word and changed his life accordingly. He put his trust in the character and command of the general.

That’s what I want—to take God at his word, trust the goodness of his character, lean into his promises and live every day in the supply line of his power.  And whatever comes my way today, I will declare, “nothing is too hard for the Lord!”

Just Saying… Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.”

Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.

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