Then Mary said, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”     Luke 1:34

In Luke chapter 1, the angel Gabriel comes to Mary and tells her that she is highly favored by God and has been chosen to give birth to the Messiah. He tells her that she will conceive in her womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name JESUS. But Mary is a virgin. She asks the angel; “How can this be?”

The angel explains to her how the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the power of the Highest will overshadow her and she will give birth to the Son of God. That’s a lot to take in for a young virgin girl who is engaged to be married to man named Joseph. Gabriel goes on to remind her that her cousin Elizabeth who was barren is now pregnant in her old age. Elizabeth was barren her whole life, when she was past her child- bearing years, she got pregnant with John the Baptist. Then the angel Gabriel explains to Mary that nothing is impossible with God.

We serve a God who had women past their child-bearing years conceive. If you will recall, way back in Genesis 21, Abraham and Sarah conceived and had a son, Isaac, in their old age. Here Gabriel is letting Mary know that her cousin Elizabeth is also with child. He is also letting her know that God can bring forth a child from a virgin, for with God nothing is impossible.

We serve a God who allowed a young shepherd boy to slay a giant with a sling shot. We serve a God who shut the mouths of lions while Daniel spent the night in the den. We serve a God who allowed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to walk around in a fiery furnace and come out without even the smell of soot on them.

Our pastor often says that our finite minds cannot possibly comprehend God’s infinite wisdom. It’s not always for us to know how God will do what He does, but we must trust in Him. We must understand that He loves us and even in our darkest days, He is with us. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding. It tells us to acknowledge Him in all our ways and He will direct our paths.

God is all powerful. He controls all things. He is all knowing. He knows what our futures hold. He knows what is best for us today and tomorrow. He is omnipresent. He is everywhere at once. He can be beside each and every one of us wherever we go and whatever we do. Whether we are walking through the fire or the flood, He is there. How can this be? Well, because He’s God, that’s how.

I don’t know about you, but there was a time in my life when I would pray to God and ask for the impossible and then wonder, “How can this be?”  I would allow seeds of doubt to creep in. I would allow my faith to falter. I would question how it would ever work out or why would God listen to me. I wasn’t worthy of His time much less His help. There were times when I had created the mess I was in, and I wondered why He would even bother to show me the way out of it.

But there have been plenty of times that I have heard people say, “It’s impossible,” only to see God prove them wrong. When the doctors say there is no hope, with God there is always hope. When we feel as though we can’t go on any longer, God can give us strength. When we find ourselves in impossible situations, we must remember that with God all things are possible. We must trust that if we love the Lord with all our heart and surrender our lives to Him to live according to His purpose that He will work all things for our good (Romans 8:28).

Can you imagine going up against a giant with a slingshot? Can you imagine being thrown into a lion’s den? Can you imagine being thrown into a fiery furnace? All of these are impossible situations, right? For mere mortals yes, but for God no.

When your situation seems impossible and you find yourself asking, “How can this be?” Know that the answer lies in Luke 1:37, “For with God nothing is impossible.” Trust in Him today. Surrender to Him and trust Him to work all things for your good.

Have a great day!