All things are possible, we sing at church. All things are possible, my pastor preaches from the pulpit.
But this time, I read those words they caught me short. I couldn’t read on.
I began to turn the words over in my mind, to think about their implication and truth.
It was just before Easter and I had been reading through the familiar passages of Passion Week in Mark – Jesus’ final teachings in Jerusalem and the last supper. I’d followed Jesus along with the 11 disciples into the Garden of Gethsemane, where in anguish to the point of death, Jesus cried out to his Father in prayer.
And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You.” [Mark 14:36a]
All things are possible with God. Over and over again, the Bible tells us this. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, we are told that with God, all things are possible.
Genesis 18:14 “Is anything too difficult for the LORD?”
Job 42:2 “I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.”
Luke 1:37 “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Mark 9:23 “And Jesus said to him, ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.”
Matthew 19:26 “And looking at them Jesus said to them, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'”
It’s a declaration of God’s character. It’s a revelation of who God is. God is sovereign and He is powerful over every single thing – the seen and the unseen; the laws of time, the laws of nature and the laws of men; over kings, elections, disease, death, war, economies, problems, needs and difficulties.
When Jesus prayed that night in the Garden, He declared this unchangeable truth.
There is never a question of God’s power. We never have to wonder whether God is able to bring something about or able to deliver in a situation or able to ____________ ___ {fill in the blank}. Absolutely, our God is able. He can do it — whatever IT is.
There is only a question of God’s will.
When Jesus prayed that night, there was a banner that ruled even higher than the ability of God.
The possibility of God is always hemmed by the will of God.
And so with one breath Jesus declared that all things are possible with God and with the next, he surrendered to God’s will.
What a sweet spot for us: within God’s power and under His will.
God’s will is perfect and it is best. He is for us and whatever He does is good. If we do not receive what we ask for, it is never because God is unable. It is because it is not best.
This means three things for us:
- We’re allowed to ask. Just like Christ, we can claim that all things are possible with God and lay our requests before Him.
- We’re allowed to admit the struggle. It’s okay to acknowledge that it’s hard, that it hurts, that we’re weary or lonely or distressed or anguished. God is safe and will tenderly hear our heart’s cries to Him.
- We’re to go to our knees in possibility and get up in conformity. “Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” [Mark 15:36b] May God use our prayers to bend our will to His and to yield our hearts to trust.
So hello, Monday. This is what we bring to you today. I don’t know about you, but I’m filling in the blank and declaring that yes, absolutely –our God is able. All things are possible with God. And with the next breath, I am surrendering hopes and desires and needs to God’s perfect will, knowing that this day and all of our days are in the sweetest spot imaginable — within God’s power and under His will.
What a great word! Thank you for sharing. I am so blessed by your writing.
Thank you, Melissa. So grateful for God’s living Word!
Once again, God is so on-time! Thank you, Lisa, for reminding me of His precious Truth. Love you!
His Word always has so much for us.
Often I will read or hear something and that same theme/idea shows up again somewhere else. In my mind it is as if Holy Spirit sends out a message and those with ears to hear get it.
Just two days ago I was listening to a teacher ask, “why do we limit God?” He is God of the impossible. That entire day I kept humming to myself the song from Rogers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella — “Impossible for a plain yellow pumpkin to become a golden carriage . . . Impossible things are happening every day!”
Silly – I know – but the truth of God being the God of the impossible is important to remember. Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy.
Thanks for posting this, Lisa.
It is so important not to limit God to our own limitations. Thanks, Nann!
WOW! He is ALWAYS on time! This word was like a “balm” to my heart. A reminder… to surrender every aspect of my wants, needs, situations, etc to Him and he will do what we believe to be impossible because in Him ALL things are possible!
Oh Lisa, thank you for allowing God to use you with this very word!
Yes, He can do all things and we need to trust how and when He answers.
Thank you, Lisa. What great insight and a new look at a verse we see so many times.
Interesting how often God tells us in the Word (and in many different ways) that He can do all things.
I wish that I had the strong belief that you have. I am struggling with faith due to some family issues. I’m having trouble understanding God’s plan. I know that you struggled. But you seem so much more faithful than I. Thank you for your words of wisdom. Paulette
Paulette, one step at a time. On the really hard days, what helped me most was thanking God for the blessings I could see and getting into His Word.
Thankyou for this great reminder! I definitely needed to read it this morning as I was having a bit of a stress attack, and the timely reminder to rest in God’s promises was very calming!
Blessings,
Eliza
So grateful, Eliza.
I love this reminder that Jesus came into the world to do the impossible. What had been tried for centuries with the blood of bulls and goats has now been accomplished — once and for all through the shedding of His blood.
Yes!
Wonderful teaching Lisa! So full of truth and encouragement! Thank you. Joining you today from Intentional Tuesday.
Wow, Lisa! What an amazing post full of so many wonderful reminders. I especially liked the part where you write about going to our knees in possibility and bending our hearts to the Lord. ““Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” [Mark 15:36b] May God use our prayers to bend our will to His and to yield our hearts to trust.” SO GOOD! Have a blessed week, sister. Hugs! <3
The possibility of God is always hemmed by the will of God. Lisa, I love that thought and phrase. It’s one to remember. Thank you.
Yes, Rachel, especially when we are weary in prayer.
This is perfect for me right now because I’ve been reading about, studying, and thinking about PRAYER. What I love about Jesus’ prayer in the garden is that God answers it. Not by delivering him from the cross, but by sending an angel to strengthen him. Blessings on the rest of your week, friend.
What beautiful insight!