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 in 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, who had escaped after 430 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 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 certain relationships on earth he didn’t have. He didn’t get married, have children, or live on earth during this fast-paced, highly digital 21st century. I prayed, “Jesus, do you understand?” Could He know how we suffer in our not fixable impossible situations? 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 teaches impatience and offers instant, fast AI answers, but they are not always accurate. They are not always honest. God is always accurate. His answer is always the Truth.
Much to my surprise, this time, God answered my prayer 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 suffering. Unlike us, he could have actually 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 22:42a) As we know, 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 impossible 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, or the circumstance you want to be different. Like Job’s impossible testing, there may be so much more to the story than what is known. Jesus, in great pain and sorrow, concluded with, “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42b)
Jesus is the Way. We may be hard-pressed on all sides. We may experience impossible circumstances that have no way out. But there is more to the story. When Peter was trapped in prison, God caused an earthquake and an angel to allow him to literally walk out of his impossible situation. (Acts 12) Likewise, when Paul was trapped in prison, an earthquake shook the foundation, and he too was free, but he stayed in the prison. He was able to lead the jailer and his entire family to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
There is more to the story. We have hope. We have The Way.