Believing in Possibility

When I look at my students, I see endless possibility. On my classroom wall, I’ve posted a verse: “All things are possible for one who believes.” (Mark 9:23). My students memorize Luke 1:27: “For nothing is impossible with God.”

But I wonder if I’ve stopped believing for myself. Do I no longer see any possibility of change for the better?

Maybe you can relate. As a child, I imagined a wide-open future where I could attain any dream, climb any mountain. A future filled with possibilities. I dreamed about the careers I could have, the family I wanted, the things I might achieve.

Then adulthood happened, and with it came limits. In place of dreams, I saw signs reading “No Trespassing” or “Do Not Enter.” “Only authorized personnel beyond this point.”

I claimed to believe in the power of prayer. But I observed the way the world works, and I began to place limits on God.

I still prayed, but in reality, I didn’t always have high hope for anything extraordinary.

Faith and Possibility

In Matthew 17 and Mark 9 we read about a father who brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus. The disciples had been unable to cast out the demon, so the father went to Jesus.

“If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” (Mark 9:22 ESV) Jesus scolded him for the “if” in his request. The father responded, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” Matthew tells us the disciples asked Jesus why they failed in their efforts to heal the boy. Jesus pointed out their lack of faith.

Sometimes we’re like that father and the disciples. We believe, sort of. But no, we really don’t believe.

And yet, Jesus said, “Have faith in God.”

Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:22-24 ESV

Surely Jesus was using a figure of speech. Mountains can’t really be thrown into the sea, can they?

As it turns out, mountains are sometimes cast into the sea. For example, in April 2021, along England’s Jurassic Coast, a cliff collapsed and slid into…you guessed it…the sea.

The collapse seemed to occur suddenly and without warning, but for years wind, waves, and weather had been at work eroding the land.

Now I think back to seemingly impossible prayers I’ve prayed. God always answered, but sometimes He answered in unexpected ways. Yet He always worked all things together for my good and provided exactly what I needed.

And I think of the present-day mountains that don’t seem to budge. Could it be God is at work in unseen ways, chipping away at the problem, creating subtle shifts, preparing the soil for the day when that mountain will break free?

Reach for More

Which mountains would you like to see moved? Old habits broken? New doors opened? Do you hope for health, healing, or happier times? Do you want to break free from the status quo and finally move forward?

• Be persistent in prayer. God is pleased when we demonstrate faith in Him.
• Be patient. Let your mustard seed of faith take root, and let those roots dig deep to erode the soil around your mountain.
• Be open-minded. Maybe your mountain-moving experience will look different than the way you imagined it.  Keep your eyes open to see what God’s doing.

The life of faith is a life of endless possibility.

Scripture for Reflection

He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20 ESV

 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6 ESV