Impossible in Human Minds, Not God’s
I am writing my blog later than usual. I returned from a full day and a long drive home from Lakewood. I went to Englewood this morning to go with my mother to her doctor’s appointment. Later in the day, I stopped to see my friends George and Annette Brauchler. It was good to see them and we shared updates about our respective health challenges. I was pleased when George mentioned his sister, Linda, follows my progress and blogs in the midst of her own health challenges.
After leaving the Brauchlers, I made a quick stop to see my friend Rick Enstrom. I made him promise to come to Fort Collins to take me fishing. My plan was to stop at Broomfield on the way home to see Riley’s baseball game. But traffic and rain changed my plans and delayed my return home.
Tomorrow, I travel back to Atlanta for another visit with Stephanie, Nathan, Mason, Carter and Mckenzie.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Once again old men and women, so old that they use canes when they walk, will be sitting in the city squares. And the streets will again be full of boys and girls playing. “This may seem impossible to those of the nation who are now left, but it’s not impossible for me. I will rescue my people from the lands where they have been taken, and will bring them back from east and west to live in Jerusalem.” Zechariah 8:4-8
As Zechariah prophesies about the restoration of Jerusalem, he draws a picture that is far beyond the imagination of the present circumstances would dictate about the future. Men and women who would be cast aside due to age or disability are seen in public, in the midst of the activity of the city. Children playing in the streets. Life has returned to a desolate place.
When I think of the condition of Jerusalem and the contrast of the picture the prophet paints, I think of some of the bombed out cities during World War II. Complete devastation and rubble as far as the eye can see. The condition of Jerusalem and prospects for the future would seem as far fetched and challenging as those conditions.
The Lord speaks and says, “This may seem impossible…but it’s not impossible for me.” I am thankful that the Lord can work and do that which beyond our ability to comprehend or believe. We look at situations and say, “it’s impossible!” The Lord says, “not with me.”
From a human perspective a virgin having a baby is impossible. A barren woman having a baby in her old age is impossible. But not with God. “The Holy Spirit will come upon you [Mary], and the power of the Highest will overshadow you… Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” (Luke 1:35-37)
When the “rich young ruler” walked away from Jesus’ invitation to follow Him. The disciples were perplexed. “Who can be saved…who can make it in God’s eyes?” Jesus responded, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)
A man brings his demonized boy to Jesus and asks for help. He basically says, “Lord do something, if you can…” Jesus responded, “‘If you can’?” …. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” (Mark 9:23) We don’t have to believe that something is possible through the natural events of life, but we can place our faith in the God who says, “everything is possible for one who believes” and “with God nothing is impossible.”
During the day of Elisha, the city of Samaria was so devastated by drought and war that all the money you had couldn’t buy food for your family. But Elisha prophesies, “Listen to the word of the LORD; thus says the LORD, ‘Tomorrow about this time a measure of fine flour will be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.'” The royal officer on whose hand the king was leaning answered the man of God and said, “Behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” Then he said, “Behold, you will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat of it.” (2 King 7:1,2)
This turn around was not something the human mind could comprehend. But it happened. It happened when the angel of the Lord went into the Assyrian camp and the armies ran for their lives and left all the plunder of recent victories along with any supplies. In twenty-four hours the Lord showed with Him, “all things are possible.”
In Zachariah’s day it seemed impossible for God’s people to return to Jerusalem for the city to prosper once again, but it happened. It happened again in 1947 when Israel was once again recognized as a nation. Impossible in the human mind, in the mind of nations and leaders, but not with God.
Don’t base your expectation for the future and the outcome of your situation on what you can picture taking place in your mind or what other people have to say. A teenage girl couldn’t comprehend how she was going to have a baby, but she did. A royal officer of the King of Samaria didn’t believe God could change the economy of the city in a day, but He did. A father, concerned for his son, wasn’t sure if Jesus was able to bring deliverance, but He did. The Lord will always have the final word and with Him, “nothing is impossible.”