Impossible = Opportunity

It can really be depressing looking at all the world’s impossible problems.  The political unrest in our society is ripping our country apart.  The coronavirus is killing people, stealing our sense of security, and destroying our economy.  Women and children are being trafficked all over the world.  I could go on and on with all the depressing headlines invading our homes every few hours.  

Our personal problems can also be overwhelming.  Perhaps your health is failing.  Maybe your family is falling apart.  You might be among the many people who have lost their job recently.  Or, perhaps your job description is entirely different than what it entailed a year ago (I can relate to this one.. I am a teacher).  

Although these situations are impossible, there is an amazing truth that provides us with hope.  God’s power works best in weakness! (2nd Corinthians 12:9)  When are we most likely to recognize God’s power in our lives?  The answer is when we are at our weakest, when we are set up to fail, when things are truly impossible. 

One amazing example of this was when Elijah challenged 450 prophets of Baal on top of Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18).  In this contest, the true god would prove himself by setting fire to an altar.  The prophets of Baal prepared their altar, called on Baal all day long; dancing, shouting, and cutting themselves trying to get a response. Of course, there was no response.  This was an impossible thing to ask.  However, when it was Elijah’s turn, he actually created an even more impossible situation.  He poured water over the altar three times until the altar was drenched and water even filled a trench around the altar. How could a wet altar burn?  This was impossible and it seemed as though Elijah had set himself up for failure.  However, when Elijah prayed to the true God, IMMEDIATELY the fire of the LORD flashed down and burned up the entire altar, (bull, wood, stones, and dust).  It even licked up all the water in the trench!  God’s power was revealed in the impossible. 

Here are some more impossible situations to read about in the Bible:  David and Goliath, Daniel and the Lion’s Den, The parting of the Red Sea, The fall of Jericho, and Gideon’s defeat of the Midianites.  There are so many more stories where God reveals his mighty power in the midst of the impossible. 

What we can glean from these examples is that the more impossible the situation seems, the better the opportunity to see God work.  This has always proven true in my own life.  We can be encouraged when things seem hopeless. We can take pleasure in our weakness and when we have no control over situations.  Someday we will be able to boast about how God revealed His mighty power in our lives during these times.  

View the impossible as an opportunity for God’s power to be revealed!  

© 2020  LivinginHiskingdom.com