Impossible Battles: Even the Winds and Waves Obey Him
We all have them. Obstacles and impossible battles that we have no idea how to overcome. We are taught from an early age to face them head on. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. For some of the battles, this is true. We can face them head on and win.
Then there are the impossible battles. The ones where it seems that no amount of fighting will keep us from defeat. The ones where our demise seems inevitable. What about these battles? How can we possibly face these head on when we feel hopeless about the outcome?
Impossible battles give God the opportunity to demonstrate His strength in our lives. – It’s easy to feel like we can conquer the world when everything in our lives is going well. On the other hand, we tend to spend more time in prayer when things take a turn for the worse. The battles remind us that in our weakness, He is strong. In Him alone, we can conquer anything.
Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NLT)
Impossible battles teach us to stay calm and never fear. – God’s desire is that we would fully surrender our battles to Him. When the Israelites left Egypt, they found themselves face to face with the Red Sea in front of them and Pharaoh’s army behind them – an impossible battle to say the least:
And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” – Exodus 14:13-14 (ESV)
Impossible battles demonstrate our need to lean on one another for strength. – God never meant for us to live life alone. One of the first things He did for Adam in the Garden of Eden was to give him a helper. As the body of Christ, we are in this together. Let’s not be afraid to ask for help. We also need to make sure we are taking the time to nurture our friendships.
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. – Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NLT)
Impossible battles allow us to grow in character, endurance, and faith. – As we learn to lean on God as well as our brothers and sisters in Christ, we grow. God is faithful. We can trust that every battle we encounter in this life will be used for His glory and for our good (Romans 8:28). We can find joy and strength knowing that God is ultimately in control – even during times of struggle.
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. – James 1:2-4 (NLT)
Impossible battles show us how mighty God truly is. – When the disciples were face to face with a brutal storm. Jesus was calmly sleeping. They woke Him panicking for their lives. He reminded them that they didn’t have to be afraid. He told them to have faith. And then He used His authority to calm the storm.
When we face impossible battles, remember that even the winds and the waves obey our God.
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