God of the Impossible
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
What does the word impossible mean to you? I’ve always felt challenged when someone told me something couldn’t be done, like it was a personal test. My motto has usually been “I’ll show them.”
Of course, there are things we simply can’t do, situations we can’t change. The diagnosis of a devastating disease, a financial disaster beyond our control, the death of a loved one in a tragic accident. These things are often beyond our comprehension. Impossible.
There is an answer to the impossible. Indeed, in the heart of every believer lies the basic understanding that we serve a God of the impossible.
Time and again, we read stories in the Bible where situations seemed insurmountable, odds were stacked against the protagonists, and hope seemed lost. Yet, scripture consistently demonstrates God’s divine intervention, proving His might and authority over all things, even those deemed “impossible” by human standards.
Impossible to Us, Possible for God
When the Israelites fled from Egypt, they found themselves trapped between the pursuing Egyptian army and the Red Sea. They cried out in fear, seeing no way out. But Moses, strengthened by his faith, declared, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” And true to His promise, God performed a miracle. He parted the Red Sea, allowing His people to cross on dry ground. This powerful demonstration shows that when we see no way out, God makes a way. (Exodus 14:21-31)
When God promised Abraham and Sarah a son in their old age, Sarah laughed, doubting the possibility due to her age. Yet, God responded with a question that resounds throughout generations: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” True to His word, Sarah conceived and gave birth to Isaac. God’s power defies natural limitations, reminding us that He operates beyond human understanding. (Genesis 18:10-14)
In Daniel 6:16-23, despite his unyielding faith, Daniel found himself thrown into a den of lions for praying to God. Humanly speaking, his fate was sealed. However, God sent an angel to shut the lion’s mouths, and Daniel emerged unscathed. This tale epitomizes that even in the face of dire circumstances and threats, God protects those who remain steadfast in their faith.
Matthew 14:13-21 tells us that with only five loaves and two fish, Jesus fed a multitude. This miracle was not just about satisfying hunger, but about showcasing that in God’s hands, limited resources can yield abundant results. Today, when we worry if our skills, time, or resources are enough, this story reminds us that with Jesus, a little goes a long way.
Perhaps one of the most striking demonstrations of God’s might is when Jesus resurrected Lazarus, who had been dead for four days (John 11:38-44). This not only solidified Jesus’ authority over death but also proved God’s dominion over life’s ultimate impossibility. In moments when we feel buried by our circumstances, it is essential to remember that the same power that raised Lazarus can breathe life into our situations.
Using Faith to Make All Things Possible
Our faith is not just intellectual knowledge or a list of facts. It is a gift freely offered by God. As Christians, each of us has a “measure of faith” given to us that drew us to Jesus, and we expand and deepen our faith by hearing/reading the Word of God: “So then faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)
When Paul was discussing being a living sacrifice, he taught us how to live out our saving faith: “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” (Romans 12:3)
While we each have a “measure of faith,” we expand and deepen that faith by hearing/reading the Word of God: “So then faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) In this way, we move our faith from our thoughts into our hearts.
Even though this gift of faith is freely, given, we must still actively participate in that faith for it to work in our lives. Consider when Jesus needed His disciples to know how important their faith would be for their upcoming ministry. In the Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 17:14-20), we read of an incident where the disciples could not heal a demon-possessed boy.
After Jesus healed the boy, the disciples came to Him and asked why they could not heal him. Faith was his answer: “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Five Ways of Trusting God with the Impossible Today
The miracles described in the Bible are not merely historical anecdotes; they are living testimonies of God’s unchanging nature. If He could do the impossible then, He can do it now. As believers, our role is to “stop doubting and have faith” (John 20:27). Here are a few suggestions.
- When facing challenges, speak out your trust and stand on your Rock when you are afraid: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” (Psalm 56:3).
- When battling doubts, pray and wait with genuine anticipation: “In the morning, O Lord, … I lay my needs in front of you, and I wait.” (Psalm 5:3)
- When we feel threatened or fearful, praise and worship God. In Acts 16:25-26, Paul and Silas were imprisoned even though they were innocent of any crime. They endured being beaten and put in stocks in a cell deep in the bowels of a prison. Their situation must have seemed hopeless – and what did they do in this impossible situation? They prayed and sang hymns to God!
- When we feel insufficient, place our trust in the provision and abundance of God. Saul, the first king of Israel, felt no one in his kingdom could defeat the giant Goliath. David, a young son of a shepherd, was so confident in his trust and faith in God that he stepped onto the field with nothing more than slingshot and five small stones, slaying the warrior (1 Samuel 17:15-50).
- In the midst of experiencing loss, believe in the resurrection power of Jesus. Death is not the end, and despair does not have the final word. Jesus’ resurrection power offers hope for today and eternity.
As believers, we are equipped with faith so that we can find hope and share it with a world that desperately needs assurance. God invites us to walk hand in hand with Him, trusting that what appears impossible to us is possible with Him.
We can trust God to work a miracle when we face the impossible. Don’t second guess the God of the Impossible. Pray, knowing that God can make all things possible. If it is in His will to do so, nothing can hold Him back.
We serve a mighty God. Let Him show you His power and glory!
May God always guide your path.