Believing in Possible-ness with God

I am not sure that we really believe that all things are possible with God. We say it, but does the pattern of our lives reflect a heart that knows it is true? How do we move from just saying it to really living it?What does it actually mean to believe that all things are possible with God?

I think the struggle comes when we experience disappointment in what God does (or does not do). So, while we know that He is capable of anything, we're not convinced that the stuff that matters to us actually matters to God. The amazing, miraculous way that we want Him to show his "I-can-do-anything-ness" doesn't always line up with how He works.

So, quite understandably, we begin to loose our sense of awe and wonder toward this mighty God who can save because we don't understand what in the world He's trying to do. I believe that God can do anything, but I have to admit that if I was in charge of what "anything" was, I would make some different choices. . .

The only way to reconcile His "I-can-do-anything" power with the difficult and discouraging situations in our lives is to look to His word and seek to understand what the main point of all of this is in the first place. Sometimes it is easy to develop tunnel vision and forget that there is a bigger story happening out there, and that even the difficulties and discouragements of our lives fit into that picture perfectly.

One of the greatest examples of all of this is Mary, the mother of Jesus. Could you even imagine what it must have been like to be Mary? To give birth to the Savior of the world? Oh, what amazing joy and awe must have filled her heart as she raised this little man of God!!

Oh, what anguish and sorrow she must have felt when they nailed Him to the cross. This was certainly not what she would have planned. This was not the choice she would have made. I cannot begin to fathom the gut-wrenching pain of watching her beloved child suffer so intensely.

And yet, God's plan was good and perfect and completely necessary. Jesus Himself begged for the cup to be taken, but he full well knew that it was a cup he must drink of in order to bring salvation to the world (Matt 26:39).

I hope that this Christmas is a reminder of the amazing "I-can-do-anything-ness" of our God. He cares deeply about every circumstance and difficulty in our lives, and even when things don't seem to go our way, we can know with great certainty that the God who began life in Mary's womb and then raised that life up from the dead is at work in us (Eph. 1:18-22).

I can do all things through Christ. And He can do all things in and through me. Lord, help me to see clearly the larger story at work, and give me the willingness to let go of my desires and trust you completely. Help me to live what I believe in my head to be true every waking moment of my days. . .