IMPOSSIBLE

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Occasionally, we are called upon to do something that is virtually impossible—there’s not adequate time; we don’t have the resources; we don’t have the skills; we don’t have the knowledge; and dozens of other seemingly valid excuses. When that happens to me, I am reminded of an impossible situation in which there seemed no way out.

It was my senior year in undergraduate school. I was approaching the end with a 4.0 GPA and really wanted to finish well. I’d foolishly left my math course until the final semesters (procrastination?), but I boldly asked the department head for permission to take trigonometry with no prerequisite classes. After telling him about my GPA, he signed my registration card, and I was set.

Until my first class. Dr. Turwey began writing equations on the board for us to solve, and I knew my pride would be my undoing. I signed up for tutoring, which didn’t seem to help at all. I was in an impossible situation. By this time, I just wanted to get enough credit to graduate.  Forget the GPA.

In desperation I remembered Jane from a church party. Pretty little demure Jane had off-handedly volunteered to help me if I ever needed math tutoring. “Hah,” I thought. That sweet young woman wouldn’t know a thing about trig, but I gave her a call. “Oh, yes,” she replied, “I taught math at Southwest State.” She invited me to come to her home after classes, and we’d see what could be done.

That point of desperation was the beginning of a lifelong friendship. Not only did Jane make sense for me of trigonometry, but it actually became fun, and while I didn’t make the “A” I would have wanted, I was prouder of the “B” than any other grade I’d made at Trinity. God took an impossible situation; humbled me to ask for help; provided the perfect tutor; and gave me a friend in addition.

In later times when I knew I couldn’t succeed in the area to which I was called, I learned (and am still learning) to trust in the Lord with all my heart rather than leaning on my own understanding. Of course, he expects us to discipline ourselves to work with the resources he provides, but with God, nothing is impossible. He is always able to do exceeding abundantly above all we can think or ask. It’s just a matter of humility, trust, and obedience.

Father, thank you for providing everything we need for life and godliness. AMEN.