Yesterday we were visiting a church in SoCal and during the service sang a song that included the lyric, "nothing is impossible" for Jesus. The Bible does tell us this. My favorite is in the Abraham story where Abe doubts the possibility of a son at his and Sarah's age (and they should have because they were ancients by that time!). God's responds, "Is anything too hard for God?"
But we, in our desire to have things go our way, put more into this statement than is there. While all things may be possible, all things are not promised. God's people suffer and die just like everyone else; and, in cases of martyrdom, cruelly for the sake of the gospel. I know for a fact that in most cases of suffering within the family of God, many are praying for God to intervene in a miraculous, or at least a providential, way. Many, and I might be so bold to say...most, times he does not.
This confronts us with a difficult tension. Though God loves us (very clear in scripture) and can do all things (also quite clear), his love and ability does not guarantee a fix for everything, like often we think it should. The Father even said "no" to the Son in the garden before his crucifixion.
There are deeper story lines than our surface ones. Though we want to believe that all things revolved around us, they actually revolve around God. Then there is the mystery that is free will. Not sure we will ever figure that one out. God controls it all but we have choice and can rebel. In the end he brings about redemption anyway, somehow bringing glory to himself in spite of...or even through...our rebellion. Wow.
Where are we left? In the middle of the need for faith. The following poem expresses it well.
Do you trust me?
Do you believe that I love you?
Do you trust me?
Do you believe that in all things
I'm bringing about what is best for you?
Do you trust me?
Do you trust me?
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