Jesus looked straight at them and said, “There are some things people cannot do, but God can do anything.”

Matthew 19:26

I responded, “God, you have done a lot of “anythings” in my life. Things I never thought I could do. Things I never even had a thought about doing. God, you’ve taken a lot of my can’t do’s, and you’ve turned them into your “anythings.”

I praised God. I know my life is not my own (I Corinthians 16:19). It couldn’t be. If it were, I wouldn’t be where I am today. And I don’t mean geography. The molding and shaping would never have happened without Him (Isaiah 64:8).

Fear would have long since diverted every good and perfect gift He’s given me (James 1:17). And every hindrance and practical solution would have stopped the flow of His work in my life. My husband often says, “You can do good and miss best.”

Because I can make a lot of sense, when I look at my situations, I come up with great solutions, precautions, and ideas and slap my wisdom on a situation. Yes, God gives us brains, and we must use them.

But that is not where God primarily operates.

None of that requires faith.

No, God never wants us to be irresponsible. But we overreach, and faith has no room to grow. We rationalize every reason not to obey.

Or, in a season of inactivity or silence from Him, we miss His work in us which is a lot of times, the work. We equate activity with purpose. Being still is boring. We’d rather do than be.

But that’s not where God primarily operates.

He requires faith(Hebrews 11:6). God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, moves in us. His Word says, “Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10).” He is looking for those who are ready to obey, even if they aren’t eager(2 Chronicles 16:9), He sees the heart. Not that our heart is good. No, it is not (Jeremiah 17:9). But He sees a trajectory. He knows, even better than we do, our willingness. He sees. He strengthens.

There’s a verse in Luke that speaks of Jesus on the night he was arrested. It says, “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter…” I believe it was a look of love. He knows everything about us, what we did, what we do, and what we will do. He knows our frame. He knows our fears and regrets. He bore our sorrows on the cross. Psalm 103:14 says, “For He knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.”

Prayer, scripture, and spiritual leadership is how He has turned my can’t do’s to anything’s. These topics are covered well on my site because they are Winning Ways to Follow Jesus.

Of course, I am not aware of all His work in my life. But I pour out my heart to Him. I tell him every fear. I wonder aloud about the possibilities. I seek Him for understanding through His Word. I ask Him to teach me how to pray. I pray Scripture. I ask Him to make me desire what He wants. I seek Him in the morning.

Somehow, if He needs to, He changes my heart. When it happens as I abide(John 15), then it translates to my heart as care. I sense His love, and I know He is giving me His best.

One of the anything’s God can do is make my heart desire what He desires. And that is probably the best thing God does. The struggle leaves, trust arrives, and that supernatural transaction proves to me that, indeed, God can do anything.

©Valerie Rumfelt

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