“While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, ‘My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.’ And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples… And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, ‘Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went through all that district.” Matthew 9:18-19,23-26
“Nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37
The mourners and press of onlookers mocked with near-sighted skepticism and unbelief. The synagogue ruler Jairus begged with spark-fire faith, seeing beyond near death to possible life for his daughter. And Jesus accepted the invitation to enter the commotion of weeping and wailing, wishing and watching, to raise more than just the little girl. For the doubters, unbelief turned to amazed disbelief. For the father, faith in a healing hand became clear sight of the Messiah’s heart and power. (Mark 5:21-24,35-42)
Jesus, who sees and enacts possibilities, enables and energizes faith in His children to participate. We might be overloaded and overwhelmed, seeing no way through heavy responsibilities and hard decisions. We might be depressed, choked in grief or loneliness, or paralyzed from moving forward from anger, failure, shame, or despair. We might laugh at the very thought of Jesus making a change we deem impossible. Would we step back from stubborn disbelief and let Him in? Would we trust His almighty power to defend and deliver, and His desire for what is best for us? (Matthew 9:27-30; Mark 2:2-12; Romans 8:31-39)
What keeps us from trusting God for the impossible? Why do we languish in faith and hesitate to ask great things from our great King, and expect Him to act? When we see no way, or a hard way, would we trust His way?
In what current situations have we given up on God? What individuals or fractured or strained relationships have we dismissed as impossible to redeem or repair? What dreams do we see never being fulfilled? If we changed our focus from worldly practicalities to heavenly possibilities, how might we ask the Lord to intervene? Consider what He could do- to change us, our thinking, or our situation. Are our prayers as bold or broad as His capabilities? As we pray, how might He use us, or elevate our expectancy, or deepen our faith? What might He teach us about how and why He works as He does?
“Long is the way,
and very steep the slope;
Strengthen me once again,
O God of Hope.
Far, very far,
the summit doth appear;
But Thou art near, my God,
but Thou art near.
And Thou wilt give me
with my daily food,
Powers of endurance,
courage, fortitude.
Thy way is perfect;
only let that way
Be clear before my feet
from day to day.
Thou art my Portion,
saith my soul to Thee,
Oh, what a portion
is my God to me!” ~ Amy Carmichael (1867-1951)
Lord, help me see beyond my mess to Your possibilities, looking to You in joyful hope and lavishing You with praise. (Romans 12:12)
As the rain and snow 