And
we mistakenly look for this time of year to change that. Christmas was
meant to be the most wonderful time of the year. If that's so, why is
the suicide rate at its highest during this season?
Maybe the
reason is because while most are singing, shopping and decorating,
others are in a different place. They're sinking in heartache. The
season's festivities intensify their grief, while
believing
they're the only ones suffering, lonely or lost.
And those
sentiments, like a brick wall, build up, creating a barrier impossible
to overcome.
Have you been there?
We all have. When
adversity of any kind barges in, our focus goes to the circumstance, the
challenge, and the obstacle.
And when this happens, we throw on
our let-me-solve-this cape. Then with flawed determination, we charge to
fix what is in the way. But rather than success, we often come crushing
down in defeat.
The reason is because this is not God's way. His
way might be to allow things to fall apart in such a way that we have no
option but to trust in him. To come to him for help. And to seek his
answers.
It was impossible, or was it?
That's why God
chose an impossible situation to tell us, no, change that, to show us
that with him, impossibilities are no barriers at all. For example, an
older woman, barren for many years is now pregnant? Impossible. And a
girl, pure and a virgin, pregnant? Impossible.
"How will this
be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
The angel
answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most
High will overshadow you. So, the holy one to be born will be called the
Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her
old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For
nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:34-37).
That "nothing is
impossible" includes your own situation, your struggle and your pain.
And like Mary, you see that scenario as impossible. Mary couldn't see
the logic. We don't either. Mary saw the circumstance instead. We see
our own, too. Mary questioned how it could be. And so, do we.
But
then Christmas happened. God Himself came to earth in the flesh so we
would not have a doubt that He's here for our impossibilities. He's here
for those moments of anguish when life is too much. He's here, alive to
shield us from our destructive anxiety.
But to allow him
to work that into our circumstance, we must avoid these three traps:
1. Toss out all poor me. We have the King of Kings, the creator of the
universe to lift us to the mountain of victory. How will he manage that?
We don't need to know the how, only need to declare that He will.
2.
Don't look at the circumstance. Instead, focus on the certainty of His
promise. His Word that says that with him all will turn around and
miracles will happen.
3. Don't give up. Perseverance is the secret to
reaching the finish line, to win the prize and to receive the medal of
triumph.
Let's pray: Father, I confess my failure to believe in
the miracles you promise. Thank you for your patience with me as I wait
to see my impossible situation turn to an immense miracle. In Jesus'
name.
What impossibility will God make possible for you today?
Janet P. Eckles
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.