It was a blindingly luminescent, terrifying Gabriel who affirmed to a stunned Mary that “nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).
My heart has cherished this verse, its hope-filled ballast anchoring my soul through more turbulent times than my memory allows. But what is even more wondrous to me is that God repeated this promise in the Bible eight times*: one for each day of the week, plus a bonus—for those days that seem doubly difficult.
My marriage has felt impossible at times—like a ship stalled eerily in the doldrums, a literal location in the ocean where the winds rarely move, stranding vessels far from their envisioned destination. Behavior, obedience, and attitude issues with my children too often left me as bewildered as a sailor without a compass under an inky, starless sky. Other circumstances threatened to drown me with waves that battered, or a stealthy undertow I felt unable to fight.
I was often the mom who feared nothing would change in my marriage, in my kids’ hearts, or in my situation. I know life like this. I am well acquainted with day-after-day seasons of barely keeping my water-logged and exhausted head above the breakers.
But like the tiny twinkle of a star breaking through the dense cloud bank, the truth of “Nothing is impossible with God” beckoned me back to hope in my eternal Father. Buoyed by the strength of this promise, I would not quit no matter how difficult, no matter how many mistakes I made (and there were too many)—because “Nothing is too difficult for Thee.”
Continuing to rise every day to care for my family, choosing to be faithful to my husband and our vows, and simply believing in the God of Redemption kept my eyes fixed on the One who loves to work miracles. I know He finds unspeakable joy in restoring the broken, among whom I am chief.
May God grant us surpassing trust today that “Nothing is too difficult for Thee.”
*The eight repetitions of this truth are found in Genesis 18:14, Jeremiah 32:17, Jeremiah 32:27, Zachariah 8:16, Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27, Luke 1:37, and Luke 18:27.
Prayer from above watermark image: Arthur Bennett,ed., The Valley of Vision (Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1975), 9.
This is a great message & one I needed this week! Thank you.