The Promise of Possibility
The promise of possibility
Life can be incredibly overwhelming. Daunting and exhausting, deadlines loom in our face reminding us of all the things we still need to accomplish. If you're like me, the post-it note and iPhone note lists go on and on even when the light of day disappears. It's easy to look down at your list and think "This is impossible, I'll never get all of this done in time!".
Life can be hard. We face hardships and trials. Financial struggles, relationship issues, problems at work. How often do you look around and think "I don't think I can do this. What am I going to do?"
Life can get complicated. We take on too much. We don't learn to say no. We attempt something and fail. Do you ever just want to throw your hands up and give up, "it's impossible" running through your mind?
Jesus replied "What is impossible with men is possible with God" Luke 18:27
I'd venture to say most of us have heard the Christmas story. Mary, a virgin girl, becomes pregnant with a baby boy. She travels to Bethlehem with her husband Joseph to register in their 'hometown' of sorts. While she's there, she goes into labor but no one has room for her and Joseph to have the baby. With no other options, they settle into a manger and she gives birth to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. A Star shines brightly over Bethlehem causing shepherds and wise men from across the land to seek and search for this star. They arrive and bow down to this new born baby, the Savior of the world.
It's a great story, right? The humble beginnings of the greatest King to ever grace this earth, lowly and quiet. But this morning as I was reading through my Advent devotional I was struck by the strength of Mary and the miraculous power of the Lord. When the Angel of the Lord appeared to Mary and told her that God had chosen Mary to carry His son, her response was:
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
In modern translation she's basically like "What?! That's impossible since I'm a virgin". It's got to be hard to wrap your mind around the fact that you're not only going to have a baby but the son of God.
I am plagued by the thought that things are just not possible, that there's no way I can do something, that X is too hard, Y is too much, and Z…well I can't handle that. But God tells us in so many areas of the Bible that what is impossible with men is possible with God….that we can do all things through Christ. As I read through the Christmas story another time, I was struck by the idea of something being so impossible and unfathomable was completely possible and capable with the help of God.
The Bible is laden with accounts of God doing miraculous things, things that seemed impossible at the time but were completely possible with His help.
Impossible: escaping Egypt and the Pharaoh's brutality
Possible: with God's help, He led them out of Egypt
Impossible: crossing over the Red Sea
Possible: God split the sea for them to walk
Impossible: Thousands of hungry people and not enough food
Possible: God provided fish and bread tenfold to the masses
Impossible: one young man taking down a giant
Possible: God provided David the strength to fight His battle
Impossible: A virgin to get pregnant
Possible: God chose Mary and blessed her with strength to give birth
All of these scenarios seem impossible at the moment. It's unheard of, it's too much to wrap your mind around but it is the truth. God promises to do the impossible in our lives, we just have to wait and seek His counsel. God can do ANYTHING He wants; He can move mountains and rebuild broken homes, so surely whatever you're facing right now- remember that everything is possible with God if you just believe. What is impossible with man is possible with God, so whatever you're going through right now just remember there is a God who loves you, is fighting for you and will make the impossible possible if you just believe.
