7-12-2019

Good Morning All,

Jeremiah 32:17; “Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.”

    “You can do it,” the words of virtually every parent and grandparent.  Whenever someone, especially a child, tries something for the first time; we want to encourage them to try and see if they can accomplish that first step, or that first throw or that first attempt at anything.  “You can do it; it is not too hard for you!”   Sometimes we even say this as we mutter under our breath, “he’ll never do it.”  We encourage, we support, we do all the “parent-y” things but deep down we expect them to fall down or to not throw the ball or to fail in their attempt.  Sometimes it isn’t even a conscious thought or effort.  I remember coaching little boys in baseball many years ago.  One of the mothers in the stands could be heard over all the others encouraging her son to hit the ball, “You can do it!”  She just about fell out of the stands when he actually did hit it. “Holy cow, he did it!”

    The difference between this and our Bible verse is huge.  In the first instance, we see these words as encouraging the child.  We may not really care one way or another if they hit the ball or throw the ball or whatever; we just want the child to try his best and then we can move on.  Yet in our Bible verse, it is an exclamation of faith by Jeremiah.  At the time of our verse, Jeremiah had been told by God to buy some land in Jerusalem.  He was to but it during the time when under siege from the Babylonians and the destruction of Jerusalem was all but assured.  I would guess the guy who sold it laughed as he took the money.  Yet Jeremiah is showing faith; he knows that God has promised to let the people return one day.  Even at its darkest hour, Jeremiah knew Jerusalem had hope because the God who created all things made a promise and nothing is too hard for this God.

    This is the type of faith that we are to have.  Go to God first in prayer, expecting him to keep his promises.  Go to God in worship, expecting him to answer your prayers.  Go to God in your living, knowing that by obeying God’s commands we will live a more contented life trusting in his great mercy to care for us.  Nothing is too hard for God is not a fanciful dream but a rock solid promise that we can cling to, even in our darkest hour.

    Nothing is too hard for God.  Death does not stop him, the devil loses to him and we can rest assured of his love, comfort and peace.   We can rely on this and count on it as we live our lives in his care and in his kingdom.  Nothing is too hard for God and he will show you if you let him.

Gracious Father, in you we have hope and peace.  Keep us ever confident that nothing is too hard for you.  Lead us to always look to you for our hope and peace.  Defend us by your might y hand and keep us in your protective are.  Strengthen the hearts of those who are struggling at this time.  Encourage them with your Spirit and send them the healing they need.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen,

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret