“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10: 27 NIV).
God can do what you can’t. However, just because He can, doesn’t mean He will. What we think we want and what is actually best for us are two different things. We have limited perspective on the situation, only God knows the full story (1 Cor. 13:9 NIV).
I’m currently studying the book of Acts. This morning I saw something I had never seen before when I read this verse: “I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me” (Acts 20:23 NIV). Paul is speaking, he’s about to depart from Ephesus for Jerusalem. And he knows, wherever he goes, he is going to face hardships and prison. Yet he is going. This verse convicted me instantly this morning of my selfishness. God can do what we can’t, but that doesn’t mean He will.
God can do what we can’t, but that doesn’t mean He will.
This morning, before I had read that verse I had just written in my journal. “Lord, I pray this is a good day filled with nothing but good news.” Then I read this verse and felt humbled. Paul’s words instantly reminded me that in this world we will have trouble, but we can take heart, God has overcome the world (John 16:33 NIV). Does that mean we can’t still pray for good days? Of course we can. But that doesn’t mean we’ll have a good day. We will face prisons and hardships wherever we go.
Our prisons are different from Paul’s. In today’s world, a lot of the prisons and hardships we live in we create ourselves: debt, insecurity, jealousy, unforgiveness, rebellious hearts, selfishness. Our humanity will always be a source of constant battle, the flesh against the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:17 NIV). But this is where God really can help us find victory, when we yield to the Holy Spirit. At the end of my journal entry this morning, I wrote those words, “Lord, may I always yield to Your Spirit.” I’m praying for a good day. God can give me a good day. But that doesn’t mean it will be a good day. God’s ways are always better than ours. God can do what we can’t, but that doesn’t mean He will.
Question of the Day:
How does knowing God can do it, but may not, make you feel?
Further Reading: Leviticus 24:1-25:46 NIV, Mark 10:13-31 NIV, Psalm 44:9-26 NIV, Proverbs 10:20-21 NIV
