After the guests left, Sarah was still thinking about what she had heard, and the words of the Lord came home to her heart in peculiar power—especially the question God had asked, Is anything too difficult for the Lord? As Sarah thought about it, she had to face that question. She began to think of it—the Creator; the one who called out of nothing the vast world in which we live and beyond that the worlds that circle us in the limitless reaches of space; the one who sustains from day to day all the mighty, complex forces of earth, brings the sun up on time, guides the planets in their whirling courses, predicts human events and centuries later brings them to pass exactly as He promised. As Sarah began to think of the one who had said these words, she felt the full force of that question: Is anything too difficult for the Lord? And she looked beyond the contrary facts of her own life and said, Of course not. Nothing is too hard for the Lord. If He has promised, then it shall he done. Through faith she received power to conceive when she was past the age because she counted Him faithful who had promised.

What a beautiful lesson this is on the nature of faith. Faith looks beyond all the contrary circumstances to rest upon the character of the one who promised. Do not be misled by the popular delusion that faith stands by itself, that it is simply believing—anything! Faith must have a promise to rest upon. Anything else is presumption, gullibility, and folly. But when God has given a word, it is the Word of God, and it can be trusted, despite circumstance, feelings, or anything else. For is anything too difficult for the Lord?

Does it seem hard to you to be what God wants you to be? Is it hard to keep your evil nature in the place of death? It is not too hard for the Lord! Does it seem hard to you to be made sweet and gracious and forgiving and loving when down inside you know how nasty and devious and unpleasant and perverse you can be? It is hard for you, but it is not too hard for the Lord! Does it seem hard that the friend for whom you are praying should ever be converted, or the one that is now rebelling against grace can ever be changed? Is anything too hard for the Lord? Does some task that God is now asking of you seem impossible to perform? It may be hard for you, but it is not too hard for the Lord.

Lord, help me to believe in the midst of my own seeming impossible situations that nothing is impossible with You.

Many people are familiar with the book My Utmost for His Highest a book that was penned by the Christian teacher Oswald Chambers. Chambers was born to Christian parents who trained him well, and after feeling called to the ministry, he founded a Bible college in London. While he wasn’t especially gifted in the area of writing, Chambers’ wife recorded all his teachings and developed them into instructional books later in his life. Feeling called to help in World War 1, Chambers suspended the Bible college’s activities and joined as a chaplain, sent to troops in Egypt.

While in Egypt he did his best to minister to Scottish and New Zealand troops stationed there. After suffering from stomach pains for three days and refusing to take a hospital bed from a soldier, Chambers died from a ruptured appendix at the age of 43.

Among his many published thoughts and teachings is a quote about God’s healing. Chambers dealt with many injured and suffering men during the war, as well as faced extreme trials himself. During one such trial he is quoted as saying, “Faith for my deliverance is not faith in God. Faith means, whether I am visibly delivered or not, I will stick to my belief that God is love. There are some things only learned in a fiery furnace.” (Daily in the Word).

I’ve heard a lot of people talk about what they will do if God grants their desire and, to an extent, that’s fine. But, more important is, what will you do if you don’t get what you want? That’s the real test of your character. That is the evidence your faith. Don’t try to bargin with God. Obey the Lord regardless of the circumstances and trust Him regardless of the outcome–that alone can be called victorious living.