Lysa Terkeurst
Oct 16, 2024
Motherhood and life have challenges. Do you see them as impossible or I'm Possible with God?
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
News and truth aren’t always one and the same.
In the previous devotion, I told you about my breast cancer diagnosis in 2017 in one of the hardest seasons of my life. I wish I could properly describe what happened in the moment my doctor said: “Lysa, I’m so sorry. You have cancer.”
Everything around me got incredibly quiet and seemed to move very slowly. I could hear the doctor continuing to talk, but I couldn’t make out his words. I could feel words trying to form in my mouth, but there was no energy to actually speak. I knew I should probably cry, but no tears seemed available.
I am absolutely a woman who believes with all my heart that the presence of God is in the midst of my life. But in that moment, He felt distant and mysterious. I just felt stunned. And then I felt okay. And then I felt stunned again. I wanted to hold it together. But then falling apart seemed quite reasonable.
It’s scary when doctors shock you with test results, and you don’t know what the future holds.
But I will say during that time, God had so many people share simple words that became powerful revelations reminding me how very near God was to me. I think times of desperation often lead us to great revelations if we will make the choice to look for and be open to them each day.
One of those examples is an email I got from my fried Shaunti Feldhan. Her not said, “Lysa, this is news. This is not truth.”
Wow.
I’ve always thought of news and truth as one and the same. What the doctor gave me was news. Honest news, based on test results and medical facts.
But I have access to a truth that transcends news. The restoration that is impossible with human limitations is always possible for a limitless God. Truth factors God into the equation.
So I find myself looking at the word impossible a little differently today.
“Impossible,” in light of Shaunti’s note, could be completely different if I just stick an apostrophe between the first two letters. Then it becomes I’m Possible. God is the Great I AM. Therefore, He is my possibility for home and healing.
I’m Possible is a much more comforting way to look at anything that feels quite impossible.
I suspect may of us have things in our life that feel impossible. Maybe you just got some bad news. News of an impossible financial situation. News of an impossible marriage situation. News of an impossible friend situation. News of an impossible medical situation. News of an impossible current event situation.
Whatever news you just got or will get, I pray Shaunti’s advice helps you too. What you heard is news, an this is God’s truth:
“I AM MAKING A WAY.”
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
“I AM FOREVER FAITHFUL.”
He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them- he remains faithful forever. (Psalm 146:6)
“I AM WITH YOU.”
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
“I AM HOLDING YOU.”
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. (Psalm 73:23)
“I AM YOUR HIDING PLACE.”
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. (Psalm 32:7)
One of the greatest comforts to me through all this has been knowing that, somehow, God will use this for good. And that God will be my “possible” in the midst of what can sometimes feel impossible.
Of course, I still have those less spiritually secure moments when I feel like I’m sinking into a consuming fear of the unknown.
But how thankful I am for the Great I AM. The One who will absolutely “guide me in [His] truth and teach me” (Psalm 25:5).
I’m so sorry for whatever it is you’re going through today that’s making the tears flow and your heart sink. I’m praying for you today, my friend. I’m praying that every time the word impossible creeps up and starts to steal your hope, you will see the words I’m Possible and hold on to Him. He will help you through any news you get and remind you of what’s ultimately true.
God, You are I AM, I’m Possible. You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and You are forever faithful. Help me lean on these truths when the news I receive feels impossible. In my home, in my family, and in my circumstances, I trust You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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