Jen’s Gem: With God, all things are possible.
It’s baffling to me that in a few weeks – days really – another year will come to an end and we will embark on a new decade. 2020. It feels like something big is going to happen. When I see the year 2020, I think of vision – both our physical vision and the visions we have for our lives.
I did not grow up knowing what I wanted to be. I didn’t imagine a specific profession that would take advantage of my gifts and talents. There was a time when I wanted to be a lawyer and live in New York City (Park Avenue to be exact), but that was short-lived.
Years ago when I wrote my baby journal and started my baby gift business, I thought this was my “calling” and poured every ounce of energy – and money – into this venture. While it resulted in a variety of achievements and accolades, I believe this was meant only to be a season in my life, providing experience and connections to people I still know today.
Like many, I struggle with knowing my purpose while I am here on earth. Questions like “Why am I here?” or “What am I called to do?” flood my mind on a regular basis. I envy those who know the answers to these questions and are living it out on a daily basis.
Perhaps my purpose was simply to raise my children and provide for them, helping them to discover the vision for their lives. I’ve done this to the best of my ability but on a regular basis I see others who are rocking the “Mom” role much better than I. I’m sure they have their bad days and they too may even question their parenting skills, but to this outsider, it’s clear they were called to be a mother.
With the approach of a new decade and with two adult children under my roof, I’ve been giving some thought to my own pursuits for the remaining decades of my life. While the responsibility for their care and support still falls on my shoulders, I can see a day when this may no longer be the case. However, it’s becoming abundantly clear that I’d better figure it out soon as the gray hairs are multiplying quicker than rabbits!
Abraham and Sarah had a few gray hairs when they were praying for a child. Both were well past the child-bearing age and they knew it’d take a miracle for it to come to pass. Their impossible dream however, was not devised in a life-coaching session or on a whim. It was a promise of God who told Abraham that he’d be the father of many nations, that his descendants would be too numerous to count.
“He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.”
All Abraham and Sarah had to do was believe God. Simple, right? All they had to do was to know that when God makes a promise, He keeps it. He is a “man” of His Word. Whatever God says will happen, happens. His words have power. Creative power. Just read the book of Genesis and the creation of the universe – now that’s power!
As I near the end of my year-long chronological reading of the Bible, page after page tell of God’s promises and their fulfillment. Never once did I think He would not do what He said He’d do. Over and over, God’s word comes to pass – from “Let there be light” to “Lazarus, come forth” to “…and the third day, rise again.”
God makes the impossible possible. He gave Abraham and Sarah a son. He raised a dead man after four days. He fed multitudes. He split oceans. He caused food to fall from the sky so His people would not go hungry. But the biggest impossibility is the raising of His Son, Jesus. Out of the depths of hell, He brought back His Son – for us, so each of us would be guaranteed a place in heaven one day.
As we approach a new year – and a new decade – we may have ideas on what we’d like to accomplish. We may set forth a handful of goals to achieve. We may embark on new adventures. We may be dreaming an impossible dream. On our own, these endeavors may seem impossible. However, the Bible clearly tells us that it’s a walk in the park for God.
“But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 NKJV)
This week I’d like to encourage you to spend some time dreaming your impossible dream. Read the account of Abraham and Sarah to see how God made their impossible dream come true. Spend some time in prayer and meditation on how God makes the impossible possible. Remember, if God says it, it will happen.
God is a pro at impossible dreams. Take Him at His Word.