Even When...Sampel

If anyone can find the impossibility in something, it’s me. I think I have a very unfortunate gift of spotting the problem, obstacle, or barrier in any and every situation in my life. My human nature is quick to let me know that “it’s not going to work,” before I even give it a shot. Luckily, I serve a God who specializes in the impossible. 

A few years ago, I had an opportunity to go on an international mission trip to India. This was an opportunity far beyond anything I had ever ventured out on in my entire life. I had never traveled internationally; I had never been on a mission trip; and I had never set out to do something like this on my own. For a girl like me, these were some pretty big things standing in my way. On top of these things, the trip came with a pretty heavy cost that I would be responsible for funding. Upon many other firsts associated with this trip, I’d never been responsible with coming up with such a cost. Impossible. 

Wrong. I was so wrong. The summer leading up to my trip challenged, stretched, and grew my faith more than ever before. But God took a feat that seemed impossible in my life and provided for every need I had, silenced every fear that bubbled up in me, and moved every mountain that was standing in my way. 

The book of Joshua is one of my favorite books in the whole Bible, and it’s ​full ​of stories of our God making a way when a way does not seem to exist. One of the most profound of these stories is in Joshua 10. The Israelites in the story are in a string of battles and challenging ones at that. God had been with the Israelites and had been providing several miraculous ways for them to take the victory in these battles, but the way God provides His aid in this part of the story really gets me. 

“On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: 'Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.' So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped till the nation avenged itself on​​ ​its enemies as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!” (Joshua 10:12-14) 

God. Made. The. Sun. Stand. Still. God made the sun still in the sky for a day to help his people! Not only does this show that God can do all things, but it also shows that His heart is for His people. His heart is to make the impossible happen for the good of His people. 

Nothing is impossible for Him. If you’re dealing with a situation that seems impossible, know that you’re not alone. And know that you are not crazy in your feelings. Things may be impossible for us, but our Bible says that what is impossible for man is possible with God. (Matthew 19:26) 

If you find yourself up against a mountain today, I have three challenges for you. I believe that if we lean into these, we will see victory and we will take courage ​even when it seems impossible. 

1. Invite Him into your impossible.
He is able to carry what we are not, and what is impossible for us is all possible with Him. We aren’t meant to bear the things of this life alone; we are created to invite our Creator into our every moment. Allow Him to have control, and trust that He will make a way. 

2. Trust that He is able.
He is the God who made the sun stand still. He is that God who parted the seas. He is the God who raised the dead to life. Remind yourself of who your God is, and claim and believe that He is able to work in your situations too. Trust that He is not only able, but that He also desires to care for you as His child. 

3. Remember His Faithfulness.
Take a moment to reflect. Where has God shown up for you before? In big ways, and even in the small moments. What has He brought you through up until now? Encourage your heart by remembering that God is faithful to come through in our impossible. 

Even when it seems impossible,​ we serve a miracle working, way making God.