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IMPOSSIBLE: One of God’s Favorite Words!

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“One of God’s Favorite words is IMPOSSIBLE.”

I said this last week in the blog and I’ve been thinking about how God loves to surprise His kids. You know…

Those SUDDENLIES…

When I went on a word search for IMPOSSIBLE, I was surprised there weren’t more results.

Impossible:

Look, he said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible FOR THEM!” Genesis 11.6

Situation: This is AFTER the flood and the people on the earth were getting a little “full of themselves,” as people will do. They decided to build a tower to heaven, to make a name for themselves! Hmm. They kind of figured they could do just about anything they wanted to do.

Result: Ah, The LORD came down to see what was going on! (We can run but we can’t hide – we can build but we can’t…) God let them know they were not independent of Him and He loved people too much to give them over to their own schemes. Tower to heaven destroyed. People scattered all over the earth. Their language confused. Read the whole story: Genesis 11.1-9

The king’s demand is impossible. No one except the gods can tell you your dream, and they do not live here among people.” Daniel 2.11

Situation: During the Babylonian Captivity Daniel and his three friends were in the king’s palace in Babylon. They were God’s boys in the service of (pagan) king Nebuchadnezzar. King Neb was having some pretty weird dreams and demanded someone to interpret them. Old king Neb didn’t take no for an answer and he got very, very angry. So angry in fact that after he was told “his demand was impossible” that he began killing all the “wise” men in Babylon, and the word was out that Daniel and his three friends were “next in line.” Daniel went to the captain of the king’s guard and asked him what all the commotion was about. After finding out, Daniel went to king Neb and asked, “Give me a little time and I will tell you the dream’s interpretation.” Big risk, Daniel….

Result: Daniel left the presence of king Neb and went to his three friends and told them the situation. He said, “We must seek mercies from the God of heaven to reveal the dream’s meaning so our lives can be spared.” Bam! In a night vision the secret of Neb’s dream was revealed to Daniel. Daniel immediately blessed the God of heaven! Long story short: Daniel went to king Neb told him what his dream meant and Daniel and his three friends were promoted. Read the whole story: Daniel 2

This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: “ALL this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God’s people. But is it impossible for Me? Says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.” Zechariah 8.6

Situation: After the exile to Babylon Zechariah along with Haggai were called to arouse the returned Jews to rebuild the temple.  Zechariah is one of the most “messianiac” of all the Old Testament prophets…he challenges his contemporaries with a call to repentance and obedience.

Result: None. YET. This “impossible” is categorized as eschatological – prophetic – to happen at a later date. But, remember ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD!

You don’t have enough faith, Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” Matthew 17.20

Situation: Right after the Mount of Transfiguration Jesus, Peter, James, and John came down from the mountain top and went “right into the multitude” and a man approached Jesus and said, “I brought my epileptic son to Your disciples for healing and they could not heal him.” Jesus was troubled by this and then He rebuked the demon, who caused the seizures, and the boy was healed on the spot.

Result: Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Why couldn’t we cast the demon out and heal the boy?” Jesus’ answer lies in Matthew 17.20 above.

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” Matthew 19.26; Mark 10.27; Luke 18.27

Situation: Jesus and His disciples are together and Jesus had just had the encounter with the “Rich Young Ruler.” Remember? The Rich Young Ruler went away sorrowful, because of his many possessions. (Matthew 19.16-22) Jesus talks about how hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven and that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. The disciples asked Him WHO THEN CAN BE SAVED?

Result: My paraphrase, “This would be impossible for a mere human being – but for God? A piece of cake. A walk in the park.” Matthew 19.23-30

Towers of Babel

Dream Interpretation

Healing seizures

Heaven

All of these things seem impossible to my finite mind – but I have a God who sees IMPOSSIBLE as opportunity to show up and show off.

What’s Your IMPOSSIBLE?

What’s your impossible? Is it greater in size than that of a mustard seed?

Give it to The One whose favorite word is …

What is your impossible? Give it to the One who loves to work on the IMPOSSIBLE. #bgbg2

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Today I am dealing with a lot of impossibles it seems. I am going to share this with others. We have impossibles that only GOD can deal with.

    Reply

  2. I love that you asked us that question: What is your impossible? I think it’s important to consider that. For me, it’s what keeps my faith small and keeps in front of me the reminder that Nothing is impossible with God!

    Reply

    • Debby, I know I know. We must make this TRUTH more than lip service. We must anchor in and on it. HE CAN DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING.

      Reply

  3. The best assurance we can have of God’s faithfulness in the future is His faithfulness in the past. That’s quite a collection of IMPOSSIBLE stories, Susan. Thanks for always bringing your uniqueness to everything you write.

    Reply

  4. Susan, such a good post. We truly need to look at these impossible situations to be reminded of all that is possible when our God bursts onto the scene. Grateful for this encouragement!

    Reply

    • Joanne, causes me to sing.

      Christ alone; Cornerstone.
      Weak made strong; in the Saviour’s love
      Through the storm, He is Lord
      Lord of all.

      AMEN and Hallelujah!

      Reply

  5. My two favorite words, Faithful and Trust. Oh Precious Abba, Nothing, Nothing is ever impossible for him. Open our eyes Lord, to see what you are doing with our situations and making them Possible.

    Reply

  7. I am still praying Colossians 1:9, filling in the blanks for that one I love in the impossible situation, after reading your entry for Feb. 7 in “The Pruned Branch”, and then I pop in here to read your thoughts–wow. God is surely speaking a word to me today!

    Reply

  9. The impossible…the insurmountable walls before us…the giants in our way… you and I spoke of mine yesterday. We all have the Impossible. Hopeless. GOD appears! In that moment, new paths are clear, colors burst forth in the grey, a deep breath fills the body…and everything is changed! Oh, to see that mountain move!

    Reply

  10. Wonderful. As I think about WHAT my “impossible” is …….it is giving me a great time of self-examination. And that is always a good thing. Thank you, Susan.

    Reply

  11. Great post. Why is it we as parents think we can “fix” for our children and grand children when it has to be placed in “God’s” hands daily? I guess we are just humans!

    Reply

  12. These are all great reminders that nothing is impossible with God. It’s easy to forget that he is the same today and just as able to deal with our “impossible” situations!

    Reply

  16. Huh! I definitely thought “impossible” was in the Bible more. Thanks for this helpful rundown. I appreciate the context and results, it gives fresh perspective to God being the God of the impossible!

    Reply

  18. God has been pushing me toward a speaking ministry for a year now. Last year i did have two speaking emgagements with local churches within my denomination.
    Its scary to think about stepping out further. Seems impossible to be able to speak to a hundred or so when 50 is the largest group you have spoken to.
    Today i dropped 5 letters into the mail to MOPS groups in surrounding area. My heart beat eilding as i prepared each envelope. I picked up the envelopes and my husband and i prayed over them.
    I have my different speached prepared but i need more polish and to buld a powerpoint. I have this thought in my head that there is an immediate need that i will be called to fill. Is it impoosible to be ready? Not with Gods help!

    Reply

  19. God is bringing me incredible healing through my cr journey. I didn’t believe it was possible to change so much, but with God anything is possible. It is amazing!

    Reply

  20. Did I already comment??? No? Okay: so many impossible things, but one smaller one is: should I begin a newsletter (or not?) God is giving me little nudges but I”m feeling lazy and then there’ s the Olympics…haha
    I love it that God gives me things that I don’t necessarily love but that draw my heart deeper into HIs. today it was a lovely breakfast (almost 3 hours…) w/ my mentor – Thanking God for her (and you.)

    Reply

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