Is It Biblical to Expect the Impossible from God?

In the Old Testament, we see Jeremiah the prophet declaring that God is available to us. Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” There are no qualifiers on what we can ask God for!

In the Old Testament, almost everything God did defied what we deem possible. In the days of Moses, God brought down plagues to liberate his people and then had the clouds rain down food so the people wouldn’t starve in the desert. David, a shepherd boy, took down a giant and ruled the Israelites despite his lowly beginnings. Esther spoke up and saved her people even though she could have been killed for her boldness. The impossible was made possible over and over.

Then Jesus comes and blows the lid off of what anyone thought was reasonable. The Messianic miracles included healing the blind (especially those born blind) and lame, cleansing lepers, casting out deaf and mute spirits, and raising the dead. They were marked as miracles only the Messiah could perform because they were deemed impossible! Then Jesus arrives, making the impossible possible as he performs all the Messianic miracles during his ministry, along with countless other life-changing miracles offered to those who followed him.

Ephesians 3:20-21 puts it this way, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

God is able. His word is a record of his faithfulness and capability. Our stories are a canvas on which he desires to show the world he is still at work. We must give him glory for being capable of doing more than what we can comprehend on our own.

Truly, without God’s design, we would not be possible. Everything about existing is miraculous, from the positioning of the planets and celestial bodies to the arrangement of our cells, to the composition of our atmosphere, and a million other meticulously synchronized details that make life possible for us. Why not trust him to show up powerfully in our lives? To heal when we need healing? To comfort when we are stressed? To save us when we are without hope?

If we pause to consider who God is and to open his word, we should be struck with the fact that God is powerful. He is invested in our stories. He invites us to boldly rely on Him for all we need. We do not have to be limited by logic or possibility. Our faith is our only limitation. Let’s boldly ask him to help our unbelief so we can behold his good works here in the land of the living.

Expect more. God is a God of abundance.

Photo credit: Unsplash/Ben White

Amanda Idleman is a writer whose passion is encouraging others to live joyfully. She writes devotions for Your Nightly Prayer, Crosswalk Couples Devotional, Your Daily Prayer, and more. She has work published with Her View from Home, on the MOPS Blog, and is a regular contributor for Crosswalk.com, Biblestudytools.com, and Christianity.com. She has most recently published a devotional, Comfort: A 30 Day Devotional Exploring God's Heart of Love for Mommas, alongside her husband’s companion devotional, Shepherd. You can find out more about Amanda on her Facebook Page or follow her on Instagram.