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Impossible!
Posted by: Stephen Leonard
Tags:
prayer, Strength for Day, weariness
Posted date:
May 29, 2008 |
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Scriptural Basis:
“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show that they should always pray and not give up.” Luke 18:1 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Anderson’s Applications:
As a boy growing up in a family who regularly had family worship and family prayer, I remember quite vividly praying for one family member who was not a Christian. I can trace this specific prayer request back to my earliest memories. As many years passed this prayer was not answered in the way I expected; namely this person has not become a believer in Christ and as of yet his life has not been miraculously transformed. Seeing no visible results, I must admit that I became weary in practice of faithfully praying for his salvation. As I became an adult and left home the regularity definitely faded, though the request never completely left my heart and mind.
Later in life I met a godly man who asked us if we prayed for God to do the impossible; that is, a request which we really struggle to believe God will answer as we asked. He himself always kept a list of 10 “impossibles” which he consistently and earnestly prayed for God to act on. As God brought about the desired change in any one of the requests, he replaced it with another. He was never short of ten, and he saw God answer hundreds of “impossibles” over the years.
Growing weary, losing heart, giving up is not difficult. In fact it comes all too easy for us. This is hard, disciplined work we are constantly tempted to lay aside, moving on to something more “attainable.” When we see no desired change over a long period of time, even though it is something we believe God would also want, we succumb to the thought it will never happen and we experience what the Bible refers to as “losing heart.” The memory fades, sometimes altogether, somewhere along the weary road.
The texts above along with many others in Scripture paint a radically different picture: Don’t give in to weariness! Instead, persevere in faith. The key to persistence is “the proper time” and hope; a hope based on faith in the One who is always faithful. “In the proper time (as God determines it) we will reap a harvest.” The prayers for which we labor the longest and hardest return a harvest of greater joy, more generous growth, and more astounding results in yours and other lives.
See if you can right now think of ten “impossibles” which you consider as something or someone God will never change; in your perspective it just will not happen! Then consider whether it is something God also values and as far as you know His heart, would want changed in the way you see it. Normally, something or someone of this nature, an “impossible,” is dear to our heart. Nevertheless, such love is wearied in the stresses of life and the weakness of our flesh. It is not so much our love for it or them that produces perseverance; it is our love for God, which urges us to truly persistent prayer. Scripture says, “Christ’s love compels me.” May it compel you to not grow weary in praying for the impossible to change, and for you never to lose heart!
Encouragement:
“Heavenly Father, strengthen my feeble knees. Give me the grace necessary to persist in prayer. Compel me by Christ’s love to never give up until I am taken from this life to my eternal home.”
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About the author
Stephen Leonard
Stephen W. Leonard is a retired military chaplain with over 34 years in the Army. He served in combat as an Infantry Officer before becoming a chaplain. He is a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and has been the pastor of several churches. He is the founder of a national Youth Leadership Conference and has been the Director of National and International Chaplain ministries. He has degrees from Wheaton College in Illinois, Covenant Theological Seminary in Missouri, and the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Stephen is the writer of the weekly devotional series, Strength for the Day. He has also written the booklet "How to Pray for Your Child" as a resource for parents. Stephen is married to Glenda Anderson Leonard, co-founder of the PAYH.
Stephen W. Leonard is a retired military chaplain with over 34 years in the Army. He served in combat as an Infantry Officer before becoming a chaplain. He is a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and has been the pastor of several churches. He is the founder of a national Youth Leadership Conference and has been the Director of National and International Chaplain ministries. He has degrees from Wheaton College in Illinois, Covenant Theological Seminary in Missouri, and the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Stephen is the writer of the weekly devotional series, Strength for the Day. He has also written the booklet "How to Pray for Your Child" as a resource for parents. Stephen is married to Glenda Anderson Leonard, co-founder of the PAYH.
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