Look Up!Sample

Day 2: When It’s Impossible

No matter how long you have lived or how skilled you are, there will always come a season, a challenge, a situation that makes you feel overwhelmed and sometimes inadequate. Life is filled with surprises, difficult situations, and impossible situations. If you are currently in one of such seasons, I want you to know that you are not alone. Jesus had to contend with these sorts of challenges while He was physically on earth. In John 17, Jesus was at the end of His life’s journey so to speak. When we look at other times in scripture that He took the same posture, we see in John 17:1, we are able to learn from what Jesus did and how He tackled difficult and impossible situations. 

Luke 9:16 (NLT)  “Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people.” How do you feed five thousand men, not counting women and children, with five loaves and two fish? Jesus took a position; Jesus looked up. This posture brings to mind the picture of a river and its source. In order to sustain its flow, the river must consistently look to its source. Jesus first turned His face to God before He turned to the seemingly impossible situation. What was the result—an overflow! What seemed insufficient became more than enough because Jesus looked up to God—deeply instructive.

In John 11:40-41 (NLT) “Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me.” This is a pattern with Jesus. Jesus actually turned His face first to God before He turned His face to the situation, and the Bible says he that was dead came back to life. When you turn your face to God in prayer, you can face the problem no matter how lifeless it seems. When you turn your face to God first in prayer, you can turn your face to the problem in victory. When you turn your face to God in prayer, you can turn your face to your opposition and win. 

In Mark 7:33-35 (NLT) “Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man’s tongue. Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Be opened!” Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly!” Jesus could change something that was totally physically impossible because He looked up to God, because He faced God. This is a huge lesson for us. When you face a situation at work, in your business, in your career, in your health, in your family—look to God. Shift your focus to God first before you address the situation, and God will fill your mouth with laughter and your tongue with singing. 

Hymn: My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior Divine; Now hear me while I pray; Take all my guilt away; Oh, let me from this day Be wholly Thine.