We have all heard sermons that implore us to have the faith, even in the most difficult of circumstances. In the Gospel of Matthew 17:20 we are told, “if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.’” We also know that in the Gospel of Luke 18:27 that “the things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
My wife is a reading specialist for students who have reading difficulties. In her class, students are asked to come up with a mission statement. With some guidance, the elementary school children came up with the following: “In this room, good things happen, and it is where my success begins!” How encouraging to think that young children can see their future in such a positive way.
Our Lord has given us specific gifts. These gifts are as diverse as our individual personalities. Yet, we are imbued with extraordinary talents that can help us to achieve and be successful in our lives. Yet, due to self-doubt or the temptation to dismiss our God-given capabilities, many will say, “I can’t,” when faced with life’s challenges.
I have a profound memory of a young man who suffered from a terminal illness. With each visit, he shared with me how fortunate he was to have had such a remarkable life. As the illness began to strip away his strength and create physical impairments, he would tell me, “Yesterday I lost the ability to climb the stairs, but look, I can still cross the room!” When he could not walk across the room any longer, he rejoiced that he could still get himself up in the morning. He finally fell asleep in the Lord with no regrets, having been encouraged by every success he had been able to achieve. His faith carried him through this difficult journey, always remembering that God was still providing blessings along his path.
In our lives, we can make things happen, with faith and trust in the Lord. In Proverbs 3:5–6 we are told: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” This trust allows us to submit to the Lord, knowing that He is the compass by which we receive direction in every aspect of our lives.
Our successes in life are enhanced when we acknowledge our gifts and know they have been freely given through God’s grace and are to be used for His purposes. Good things happen when we put aside the “can’t do” attitude and realize we can achieve that which seems impossible through Him Who is the “giver of every good and perfect gift from above.” (James 1:17)
God made us in His image and likeness. He wants us to achieve great things, especially so that His love can shine through our lives and inspire faith in others. Never, ever, give up. Pray for God’s guidance and strength every day, giving thanks for the blessings seen and unseen, for our successes and our failures, and remember, with God ALL things are possible!