When was a time someone asked you to do something that felt impossible?How did you respond? Did you say, "I can't do that!" or did you decide to attempt the task at least and say, "I will try?" I have to admit it; I am most likely to respond by saying, "I can't!" It is okay to establish what you feel capable of doing and what you don't. Sometimes we physically can't do the things others ask us to do. But what about when God asks us to do something that feels impossible? How do we respond? The truth is the things God asks us to do are often impossible for us, but they are not impossible for Him.
Esther found herself in an impossible situation when her cousin Mordecai asked her for help on behalf of the Jewish people in Persia. Haman, the king's most powerful official, had convinced the king to destroy all Jews in their land. He was angry because Mordecai refused to bow to him as the king had instructed his officials to do because of his faith. He knew that all Jews would refuse to bow down and, as a result, made a plan to have all Jews destroyed in Persia. Now, Esther, the queen, had concealed her Jewish identity. No one knew she was a Jew. Mordecai, along with the rest of the Jews, was mourning this plan to destroy the Jews, and Esther sent one of the king’s eunuchs, Hathach, to find out what was wrong. After Haman explained what was happening, he asked Esther for help. He told her to "go to the king and beg for mercy and plead for her people" (Esther 4:8). As you can imagine, this was a weighty request. Esther responded, "All the king's officials and even the people in provinces know that anyone who appears before the king in his inner court without being invited is doomed to die unless the king holds out his gold scepter. And the king has not called for me to come to him for thirty days" (verses 10-11). In other words, Esther was saying, "This is impossible!" No one, not even the queen, was allowed to approach the king in his inner court without being called. If they did, they risked death. Their only hope was if the king held out his gold scepter, pardoning the person for approaching him. Even more, the king had not called on Esther for 30 days. There was a strong chance that he would not call on her soon. This was a nearly impossible request.
After Esther expressed the impossibility of this request to go to the king, Mordecai sent this message back to her: “If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (verse 14). In this powerful message, Mordecai reminded Esther that even though her situation was difficult, it was not impossible for God. God can do anything. Mordecai was confident that God was going to save His people. Would Esther be a part of this rescuing, or would He use someone else?
This message from the book of Esther is a message for all of us: God can do anything. “What is impossible for people is possible with God” (Luke 18:27). What is He calling you to do today that seems impossible? Will you trust Him to do the impossible through you?
What thing has God been prompting you to do that feels impossible? What has been holding you back? Spend time praying to God. As you pray, recognize the seemingly impossible thing He has called you to do. Ask Him to help you and give you the courage to take that step even when it feels impossible. Ask Him to work in that situation and tell Him that you know that although you might not be able to on your own, you believe He can.
"Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. 20 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’”
21 The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”
22 When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.
24 When Jesus saw this, he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
26 Those who heard this said, “Then who in the world can be saved?”
27 He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”
28 Peter said, “We’ve left our homes to follow you.”
29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, 30 will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.”
