From Streams in the Desert, for November 5th:
Genesis 18:14 “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”
Here is God’s loving challenge to you and to me today. He wants us to think of the deepest, highest, worthiest desire and longing of our hearts, something which perhaps was our desire for ourselves or for someone dear to us, yet which has been so long unfulfilled that we have looked upon it as only a lost desire, that which might have been but now cannot be, and so have given up hope of seeing it fulfilled in this life.
That thing, if it is in line with what we know to be His expressed will (as a son to Abraham and Sarah was), God intends to do for us, even if we know that it is of such utter impossibility that we only laugh at the absurdity of anyone’s supposing it could ever now come to pass. That thing God intends to do for us, if we will let Him.
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Not when we believe in Him enough to go forward and do His will, and let Him do the impossible for us. Even Abraham and Sarah could have blocked God’s plan if they h ad continued to disbelieve.
The only thing too hard for Jehovah is deliberate, continued disbelief in His love and power, and our final rejection of His plans for us. Nothing is too hard for Jehovah to do for them that trust Him.
In 2010 I wrote in the margin, “Weeping. Too close to home. I can not even write.”
In 2011 I wrote in the margin, “Oh God, a year ago indeed we had given up hope for our desire of another living child! I am in tears again now, for the reminder that no indeed, nothing is too hard for our Lord!”
In 2013 now, I assent again that God is in control of all things, and even my disbelief does not block the Father’s design. Even my rejection of His plans. He takes my disbelief, my rejection, my despair, my weeping… and He takes this cracked pot of clay and reworks it, so that He can work out His perfect will. What a beautiful thing, and what glorious promise, what blessed hope!!
Thank you for posting this! This was rather poignant for me. We are praising God for all the glorious wonders He’s worked in your life! What a testament to His utter power and kindness. We pray for continued hope as we enter 11 years of asking God for children. Believing He can do it because He is all love and power toward us and for us! With love, Jen
Jen, I have often prayed for you through the years. How I would love to share some of my bookshelf with you, perhaps over a cup of tea and a GF muffin (I made my first batch ever this morning! hah!)… Anyway, I feel like I long to share in your burden more and to also rejoice more deeply alongside you because I know God has already done such great things in you and through you, and I am confident that He will continue.
Thanks for commenting here. I am so humbled by it.