But With God

I’ve heard it said that people don’t change. When watching a show where there’s an abusive relationship, the abuser may say they’re sorry and they’ll never do it again, but the viewers of the show can’t help but roll their eyes and think yeah, right… 

Sadly (and predictably), I’m one of those who roll their eyes. I say that it’s sad because I absolutely know that nothing is impossible with God. The passage in Matthew 19 (about nothing being impossible with God) has been used in so many ways – some of them not quite what it was intended for. My kiddos brought this to my attention when I corrected them in regards to their attitude. One of them – I don’t recall which one (I have 5 – I’m good to remember their names) – one of them was complaining that they couldn’t do something (I abhor hearing them say that they can’t do something). I responded by telling them that they could do anything – nothing was impossible with God. The response was something between them being funny and being a smart-aleck: Does that mean I can fly?

While their winged adventures are on hold until their feathers come in (insert eye roll here), the ability to make other types of changes are absolutely possible. People can change. People do change. Change comes about when we have experiences. Some may scoff at this, but there is such a thing as experiencing God. Sometimes we may think we know God, but have never actually encountered Him. We may have head knowledge, but our heart isn’t in it. A friend of mine recently shared her encounter, her experience, with God that transformed her life. Her story resonated with me because I, too, had God mistaken for someone He’s not. Because of this, when I went through hardships, I made poor choices and allowed bitterness to take root in my brokenness.

I made choices based on emotional responses when I was in high school. Parents went through a not-so-nice divorce, we went from a family of four to a family of two, innocence was stolen, introduction to drugs and alcohol, and a quiet defiance coupled with a devil-may-care attitude. I chose poorly. While I felt justified, I was wrong. For a long time, I carried a cloaked victim mentality – I didn’t openly blame others for my poor choices by stating it was because of this person or that situation – but I harbored bitterness. It took a couple decades before I allowed myself to recognize the need for forgiveness. Not just forgiving others, but also forgiving myself.

What I thought was impossible only became possible with God. He was the only One who could uproot the bitterness and mend the broken pieces. I wasn’t looking to sprout feathers and have hollow bones, but there are some things that can only be classified as possible because of a supernatural power.

“Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?’ ‘Why do you ask me about what is good?’ Jesus replied. ‘There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.’ ‘Which ones?’ he inquired. Jesus replied, ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’ ‘All these I have kept,’ the young man said. ‘What do I still lack?’ Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, ‘Who then can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'” Matthew 19:16-26 (NIV)

The wealthy man had done everything good he could do in his own strength and it still wasn’t enough to bring about his salvation. It was impossible for him to do so in his own strength, but with God… oh, but with God…

With God we can drop habits cold turkey with no side effects, cravings, or hang-ups. With God we can experience miraculous healings. With God we can see relationships restored to something better than we had ever had before. With God we can experience joy that isn’t stifled by negative circumstances. With God we can forgive quickly – leaving no time for bitterness to take root. With God we can make wise decisions based on the leading of the Holy Spirit. With God we can experience freedom from fear and anxiety. With God… the possibilities are endless.

I’ve experienced healing, chains being broken from addictions, and relationships being restored and transformed into something beautiful. I’ve experienced miraculous orchestrations in normal, everyday life as well as extreme circumstances. Whether traveling short distances or around the globe, God has kept us safe from tsunamis and pandemics. During hard times in our economy, we have financially thrived – that was, and is, wholly God.

God is able to do so much more than we give Him credit for. Miraculous healings, chains being broken, restoration of mental clarity, and endless other “impossibilities.” How has God worked in your life? Has He freed you from something? Healed you? Intervened on your behalf? Has He opened doors that you never thought you’d walk through? Has He shut doors to protect you from harm? With God… the possibilities are endless. Do you see them?

I would love to hear about how God has made the “impossible” fully possible in your life. Leave a comment or send me an email (ohblessitgrace@gmail.com). If you know of any children who have sprouted feathers and learned to fly, send pictures. Could only happen with God…