“He was absolutely convinced that God was able to do anything he promised.”
Romans 4:21 NLT
Are you a dreamer?
Do you often get accused of not being realistic enough? Do you enjoy creating entire worlds in your mind where the rules of this world don’t apply? Can you identify with Lewis Carroll in his famous Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland quote, “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as 6 impossible things before breakfast.”?
Me, too.
And I believe that God is the original dreamer. Except God calls it faith. Faith is believing in what you can’t see because of what you can see. He encourages us to believe many more than 6 “impossible” things before breakfast.
But, if we’re being honest, sometimes being a dreamer – or a believer – gets hard. As we grow up and experience loss, pain, suffering, and other tough encounters with this world, it becomes more and more difficult to believe the impossible can actually happen.
In Romans 4, Paul talks about faith. He reminds his readers that faith is critical to a healthy Christian life. He references Abraham as an example of someone who had great faith. He says that “He [Abraham] was absolutely convinced that God was able to do anything he promised.”
Are you absolutely convinced that God is able to do anything he promised? What about the stuff that the world (or your pain) tells you is impossible?
Maybe it would be helpful to know exactly what we’re talking about when we talk about God’s promises. Here are just 6 (out of the many, many) impossible things that God promises us:
- The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. (Psalm 145:9)
- He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. (Isaiah 40:29)
- Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)
- Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
- Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
- I [Jesus] am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. (John 11:25)
And these impossible things are still true even on the days that we struggle to believe them.
So, my challenge to you (and me) is to consider how your life would/does look different if you were absolutely convinced that God is able to do these six things that he promised? Don’t just grab the first answer that pops into your head, either. Let your soul linger on this question for as long as you’ve got time. Take at least 5 minutes right now to just daydream about the life of freedom, peace, and courage God wants for you.
Share your insights in the comments section below or shoot me an email at emily@messyworship.com!
Prayer: Dear Lord, I know you know my heart and my doubts. Please forgive me for all the times when I’ve given up believing in your love and goodness. I want to have faith like Abraham. Make me strong so that I can know even more of the freedom that comes with faith! Amen.
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