The Way
Is there an area of your life that's impossible for you? Impossibly hard. Do you feel trapped emotionally or physically in a situation that you can’t move forward in? I have experienced this feeling from one area of my life for many years that left me in true despair. I felt it’s unbearable pressure. I was utterly without a way past it.
The Israelites, after escaping 400 years in Egypt, now stood at the Red Sea with no way. Water only before them and the pursuing Egyptian army behind them. They were trapped. They were utterly without way. Yet, one man, Moses, knew the one who knew the way. Moses had a personal relationship with God. He told Moses, “The Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.” (Exodus 14:13) How? What was God going to do? This situation was impossible. The people knew they were trapped. Yet, God made an incredible way by parting the water.
Jesus is our way. He said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” He raised a dead little girl and Lazarus, who was dead four days, back to life. There was no way, but Jesus made the way. What about the matter of the greedy tax collectors’ hearts? There was no hope for them; the perfect law keeping Pharisees made it clear it was impossible. Yet, with Jesus they found their way. What about your heart? What is that most impossible situation in your life? I hope you’re free, but if there is an area you’re trapped let’s be honest about it. Let’s face it.
Jesus wants you to bring it to Him. He makes it clear that he is able to sympathize with us. Of course, Jesus, all knowing, all God, understands all things, but I contemplated how he could relate to marriage, parenting, or struggles from this fast-paced, highly digital 21st century? I prayed, “Jesus, do you understand?” “Do you know how I suffer in this not fixable impossible situation?” Then I was prepared to wait, honestly, truly trusting He would answer. He has proven He does. Waiting on God requires patience, it’s His perfect time and answer, not mine. This age offers instant AI answers, but they are not always accurate. They are not always honest. God is always accurate. His answer is always the Truth.
This time God answered my prayed fast. Literally in minutes. I read in Luke 22:44 that Jesus was in agony, so much so that his sweat became like great drops of blood. This is medically possible in extreme cases of emotional or physical stress. My Savior, hopefully yours too, experienced the deepest despair. Unlike us, he could have walked away from His impossible situation. Yet, He literally resisted doing what he preferred and walked all the way through God’s will for Him. Feeling overwhelmed by this agony, He knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you're willing, take this cup from me.” (Luke 22:42) Our Heavenly Father didn’t take the cup and Jesus endured the cursed, shameful cross. Which saved us from our sin and shame. Oh, praise the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Today is your day of declaration. Ask your Heavenly Father, whom you have a personal relationship with, if He is willing to take your impossibly hard situation - your cup from you. Knowing, however, God’s good purpose may include walking through it. Walking through that relationship that won’t seem to change, the sickness that won’t heal, the circumstance you want to be different. Like Jesus on the cross or Job through the testing, there is so much more to the story that isn’t known at the time.
Paul taught us that we will be hard-pressed on all sides. We will experience impossible circumstances that have no way out. But there is more to the story. Peter was trapped in prison, and God caused an earthquake and an angel to allow him to walk right out of his impossible situation. (Acts 12) Likewise, when Paul was trapped in prison, an earthquake shook the foundation, but Paul remained in the prison and was able to lead the jailer along with his entire family to God. Paul teaches that we are not to be in despair. There is more to the story. We have hope. We have The Way.