When is the last time you dared to believe -really believe -the impossible?
The last time I did, I was practically a kid. The faith of a child is unstoppable. When we’re young, we don’t see obstacles, we see challenges awaiting victory! Do you remember how huge everything was as a kid? Get on your knees and make your way around your home for a while. The counters are higher, tables seem longer, light switches just out of reach (well, out of reach for those of us with short arms). Things were so big from our perspective, and yet we went along undeterred. A child knows things that we forget as we grow older. A child knows a parent will pick them up when they fall, hold them close when they hurt, reach things they cannot, heal boo-boos, and set into motion moments that leave us fascinated. Watch a child sometime. One moment, they may be hurt, perhaps even in tears, running into the arms of that parent who loves them so much. The next moment, the child is off again to the next big adventure.
Children believe in the impossible all the time, and that is the kind of faith God desires of us. God wants us to look at Him and His abilities with the utmost trust, in wondrous awe and joy-filled expectation. When Jesus came down to this earth – a world filled with sin and darkness, I believe His heart smiled every time He saw a child: a child at play, a child hugging a parent, a child holding the hand of a loved one – free from worry, trusting completely, believing everything would be ok. Jesus made this point to His disciples as He called a child over to Him. *Matthew, *Mark and *Luke all record the same message, “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”* The heart and mind of a child freely runs to Jesus, without hesitation, trusting with complete and utter faith, and that is precisely what He wants us to do today.
Ok. So, life has knocked you down and pushed you around. Maybe you’ve become cynical. I can understand that. The world has that kind of effect. You’re bigger now, you have more experience, things didn’t always turn out the way you had hoped and it’s just easier to travel on this journey as a passenger. You know Jesus, you love Him and you believe one day you’ll live with Him forever because He died for your sins. Isn’t that enough faith?
Yes, we believe that Jesus died for our sins, that He – God Himself – humbled Himself upon a cross, enduring torture and a crushing no man has ever or will ever experience again, died and rose again so that we may live with Him for all eternity. But, my friend, there is far more to this life we are presently living. We are to shine for Jesus, proclaiming His miraculous ways. The only way to do that is to really believe. If God would die for you before you even came into being, He is certainly with you today. God has amazing plans for you in this life, as well as the next. He wants you to believe the impossible is possible. He wants you to look at the challenges of life and defiantly say to them, “Move you mountain! Jesus has plans for my day today!” Jesus wants you to run to Him. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” He wants you to believe with all your heart, soul and mind that He is there, at work, moving those mountains. So, dig into His Word to hear His promises, strengthen your faith, and draw closer to Him. Be “[assured] of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” God wants you and me to have faith like a child.
The more you practice your faith in God, the stronger it will become. So let’s practice, shall we? I recently read in a devotion something that blew me away. In “Sun Stand Still” by Steven Furtick, he writes “If you’re not daring to believe God for the impossible, you’re sleeping through some of the best parts of your Christian life. And further still…” listen to this. “… if the size of the vision for your life isn’t intimidating to you, there’s a good chance it’s insulting to God.”
Think about that for a moment. “If the size of the vision for your life isn’t intimidating to you…” When was the last time you dared to dream audaciously? When was the last time you looked at an obstacle and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God would make a way for you? When was the last time you had faith like a child?
There was a guy in the Bible named Joshua, and he was the guy in the Bible who followed in the footsteps of Moses. No pressure there. He would lead God’s people into the Promised Land. But there were mountains in their way; mountains in the form of armies. Now Joshua had faith – a faith I strive to have each and every day. Joshua needed more daytime to defeat his enemies and so he commanded the sun to stand still so they would have enough daylight to win the fight. A man, like you and I, made the sun – that huge celestial ball of fire at the center of our solar system, stand still. Yet, Joshua took no credit. He knew God was with him and he knew that God would make it happen. It was a step, cry, command of faith in God… and God, did in fact, make the sun stand still for Joshua. But God didn’t just stop there! No, He went well beyond that. God protected His people. The earth didn’t burn up as it stood against the heat of the sun. God fought alongside Joshua. He brought hailstones upon their enemies, easing the burdens of His people. God brought to fruition the hopes and dreams of Joshua and His people – seemingly impossible hopes and dreams He planted in their hearts long ago – and it was all done that day with one act of faith, a cry out to God from one humble, believing, trusting man who believed in the impossible, and the One who could make it happen.
Here’s the challenge: Today, right now, begin your journey towards trusting God for whatever seems impossible. Dream audacious dreams. Answer the courageous calling He has for you. Believe like a child and then step out in bold faith knowing that “nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)
*Matthew 18:3, Mark 10:15, Luke 18:17
