A Note for Facing Impossible Tasks

A few nights ago, just before bed, I stood staring at my bookcase feeling the need to read something before I slipped under my covers.  I already read a passage in Acts and it was almost as if I needed something light to think on as I drifted to sleep.  The books stared back at me, daring me to open their pages and digest the information within them.  If I read something too deep, I would lie awake pondering it.  If I began a book, I’d be tempted to finish the chapter.

So finally I picked up a book entitled Candles in the Dark by Amy Carmichael.  They contain bits and pieces of some of her letters that she wrote to various people in her circle of influence.  Among one of the pages I skimmed over was ‘to one facing an ‘impossible’ task.’ 

“How appropriate.” I thought.

This year poses a great challenge for me.  Under my care are five dorm parents and ninety-some students, each with their own unique needs, challenges and opportunities for growth those challenges provide.  On top of this is my continual pursuit of where God is leading and directing me.  So with all this on my mind and a few other things I read the following:

“Go with an open mind to be led at the time—not with all arranged beforehand.  It is great to be faced with the impossible, for nothing is impossible if one is meant to do it.  Wisdom will be given, and strength.  When the Lord leads He always strengthens.”

And God’s list of doing the impossible is long:  He gave Abraham and Sarah a child when their bodies were old and worn out.  He sent Joseph to Egypt before the great famine of the land to save many nations.  He sent Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and through the Red Sea.  God gave his people enough food and water in the wilderness.  He conquered Jericho through Joshua when the army only marched around the city.  He used Gideon and an army of 300 soldiers to defeat their vast enemy.  David slew Goliath with a sling and stone.  Solomon was given wisdom to understand and govern God’s people…and the list goes on. 

It is good to know I follow after a God who does the impossible and does more then I think is impossible.  So as you and I go about our day, may our God cause us to remember his word in Ephesians 3:20.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen”