Nothing is Impossible with God

I’ve questioned God a lot this year. Trials seemed to roll in one by one starting in 2019 and have continued through 2020. We’ve grieved. We’ve hurt. We’ve tasted trauma. We’ve ached for normalcy. We’ve wrestled with emotions. We’ve questioned God more than once with questions like “How much more?”  

Today, in the midst of the sadness of this year, I see a flicker of light. No, I’m going to say a big bright light. I have seen God answer our prayers for my husband’s healing.

Ben experienced a horrific bicycle accident over Labor Day that involved 2 fractures in the pelvis. Here we are three months later and he stepped out of that wheelchair and began to walk TODAY! Listening to the doctor, Ben’s results could have been so much worse. Yet, nothing is impossible with God.

Check out two folks in the Christmas story who knew a bit about the ‘impossible.’ Zechariah was one of God’s priests serving in the Jerusalem temple. He and his wife were childless and in the Jewish culture this was seen as missing out on God’s blessing. An angel appeared to him and announced that his wife, Elizabeth, would give birth to a son. Zechariah’s first response was one of doubt. In Luke 1:18 “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” Because of his doubt, the angel silenced Zechariah until John, the son, was born.

Mary had a different response. When an angel appeared to Mary to announce that she would carry God’s son, Mary responded with “How will this be?” (Luke 1:34)  Even though Mary couldn’t possibly understand what was going on, she believed the angel! She knew that God was going to do something special through her. The last thing that the angel said to Mary was the words ”nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37) Mary’s response was beautiful “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” Don't miss the beauty and belief found in her response.

God always answers prayer in his own time and his own way. He may not always have the answers we want, but we still trust in God, knowing that He will see us through the darkest of circumstances. He worked in two impossible scenarios in the Christmas story. Zechariah doubted. Mary submitted and believed.

What impossible situation are you facing today? Will you doubt or believe? God is the God of the impossible.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.