I hold in my hands an amazing reminder that nothing is impossible with God. Our greatest obstacles can become stepping-stones of God’s opportunity in our lives.
What is the hardest thing you have ever faced? Multiplying it by more than you could imagine gives an idea what refugees across the world face daily!
My gift is a simple little mosaic tile with Arabic letter “n” (pronounced “noon”).
“Noon” is the symbol Islamic militants used to mark Christian homes and businesses. It was the signal to “convert, pay a tax or be killed. Many Christians fled as their property was confiscated by ISIS.
Yet this very symbol has become a source of solidarity, strength, and perseverance. On the back of my tile is a name of the person who created it; a gentle reminder to pray for them and others.
Nothing Is Impossible with God
They are a modern-day example of facing impossible odds, and coming through strong. God gives us many more examples:
With God
walls crumble to dust
jail doors fling open
the weak become strong
lepers healed as they walk
a box lunch feed thousands
despised women and ignored children find their place
enemy armies flee in terror
lions shut their mouths
raging waves and winds halt
persecutors become preachers
the fearful made fearless…
When God speaks all of creation stops and obeys! Nothing is impossible! Nothing!
If God is For Us
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?“
Romans 8:31
When we are hardly capable of keeping our heads above ground, it is difficult to remember; remembrance is a powerful tool giving strength to face obstacles head on.
Remember
Jonah remembered God in the belly of a fish,
“When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer
rose to you…
I will say, ‘Salvation comes
from the LORD.'”
Jonah 2: 7-9
In remembering came salvation and a second chance to obey.
“I remember my affliction and my wandering…
Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD’s great love
we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail“.
Lamentations 3: 19-21
The writer goes on to declare God’s faithfulness, declaring him as our Source and Sufficiency. The God who is more than enough.
At one of his most critical moments, Joseph remembered the dreams God has given him and watched as they were fulfilled before his eyes.
There is something very powerful about remembering what God has said and done; it ignites confidence for today and births hope for tomorrow.
Thankfully, God has given us a book of remembrance – The Bible.
My “Noon”
I’ve never had to flee my home, part a sea, raise the dead, face lions, or fierce armies. Consistently though, obstacles I’m not sure I can endure, let alone overcome, are in my path.
Several years ago, I was challenged to keep a journal. I struggled with it for a long time until Pastor Rod Barks showed me “S-O-A-P”: Scripture, observation, application, and prayer. This little guideline is exactly the structure I need to keep on track.
My journal is a road map of my obstacle course of overcoming through solidarity, strength, and perseverance
depression and suicidal tendencies,
addictions,
failures,
brokenness,
prolonged deserts of the soul.
In this little journal are accounts of how God
brings hope in my hopelessness
helps in my weakness
transforms courage from fear
and faith from frailty.
With God nothing is impossible! My journal like the “noon” is a reminder of how big and crazy awesome my God is. My smallness doesn’t restrict Him; the world’s madness doesn’t hold Him down, keep Him back or restrain Him in any way. Nothing is impossible with God!
“All things are possible for one who believes.”
Mark 9:23__________
Related Posts