LORD, YOU ARE ABLE

Seems like a rather self-evident statement, doesn't it?

And if someone were to ask me if I believe it, I would answer, "Yes, of course!"

But, if that same someone were to ask me if I lived like I believe it, well…

(Cue deafening silence)


Yeah, I struggle with that.

I remember several years ago being in a Bible Study.  We were studying a book written by the wonderful Priscilla Shirer, "God Is Able."  And I remember one week in the video she said something to this effect:

We only have to decide whether we believe that God is able.

That's our part of the equation.

Whether He will or will not, that is His sovereign decision.

That's His part of the equation.


Ah, there's the struggle.

I do believe He is perfectly capable of doing ANYTHING.

What stops me in my anxious tracks is the worry that He won't do that wonderful something that makes everything OK again.

That He just might not do something to change a situation, to mend a relationship, to cure the health problem, to fix the financial mess, to work a miracle.

He might choose NOT to act.

This is where my *math* fails.  Where I don't fulfill my part of the equation.

Perhaps the better questions to be asked are these:

"Sharon, do you believe that God is able to work in ANY situation, even when it looks like He's doing nothing?"

"Sharon, do you believe that God is able to bring about His PERFECT will, even when things don't work out the way you want?"

"Sharon, do you believe that God is able to uphold you through ANYTHING that happens, even the scary stuff?"

This is where my faith falters.

How about you?


Today in church we had a wonderful sermon about the abundant life.  And in the course of the message, the point was made that we need to really make Jesus the Lord of our lives.

I've grown up hearing about the *throne of my heart* – and how necessary it is to yield everything in my life to the Lord.

To let HIM sit on that throne.

But, how often do I really do that?

Some days I sneak into the throne room and wait until Jesus gets up. Then I jump onto the throne when I think He's preoccupied.

Or some days I pick up the crown and scepter and act like I control the kingdom.

All too often, I try to lock the doors to the throne room so Jesus can't even get in.  Of course He does, but I still refuse to yield.

But guess what?

Even when I jump onto the throne, I still find myself sitting on the lap of Jesus.  And when I pick up the crown, it doesn't fit.  You see, it's made out of thorns, and it wasn't made for me.  And that scepter?  Way too heavy for me to hold.

And I cannot lock the doors, even if I tried.  Jesus is there, always, no matter what…

Patient with my childish ways, patient with my pretending to run the show, patient with my fearful refusals to yield my life fully to Him.


Surrendering is so very hard, isn't it?

And I believe that it involves a tough, and sometimes lonely journey to the Cross.


Here's what I see Jesus calling me to do:


1) Bring my impossible stuff to the Cross

Sometimes I don't even pray about the things going on in my life.  I am so overcome by their dreadful, possible outcomes that I cannot even put words to them.  Sometimes I run away from the cross, hiding like the disciples did, crouched in fear and trembling.

Sometimes just walking up that steep and difficult path to the cross is a willful act, a step-by-step journey I travel in spite of my feelings.

"Sharon, come to Me."


2) Lay my impossible stuff down at the foot of the Cross

OK, so I've made it to the cross.  I look up at Jesus and I ask Him for His help. I know that He can do something about every single thing that affects me and my loved ones.  This is the bundle of *stuff* that I hold in my arms.

But I cannot lay it down.

My arms are aching from carrying it all, my head is swimming with treacherous thoughts, my emotions are exhausted, and my spirit is weary.

Sometimes, quite honestly, I finally lay down my burdens just because I am utterly done in.

"Sharon, lay your burdens down."


3) Let go of my impossible stuff

Jesus is not fooled.

He sees me during the day, hands still gripped tightly to my burdens.  He sees me during the night, laying in the shadows, hands still gripped tightly to my burdens.

And no matter what "right" words I say, or how I might attempt to portray a perfect picture of faith, He can still see the fingertips holding on for dear life.

He sees.  He knows.

And He gently presses me to release my fearful grip, to surrender my anxious grasping.  To relinquish my desperate need to control everything.

"Sharon, let go."


4) Walk away from the impossible stuff

This is the hardest part of the whole journey.  If my desperation brings me to the cross, if my weariness allows me to lay down my burdens, if my faith drives me to let go…

I've still got to walk away.

This is the toughest part.

This is the final admission.

The total acknowledgment that I cannot deal with the burdens of life on my own.  That I need a Savior's help.  That I submit to His perfect will.  That I yield to His ways, His timing.

That I trust Him enough to walk away and LEAVE my burdens with Him.

The unchangeable situation, the utterly broken relationship, the dire and deadly health problem, the convoluted financial mess, the totally impossible miracle.

"Sharon, walk away."


This has always been my battleground.

For fear is all too often my master.  And the enemy does his best to keep me seeking to sit on the throne, and whispers to me that I can rule my world.

Oh, his lies are dangerous…

Lord, please bring me to Your Cross.

Help me to lay down my burdens.

Give me the courage to let go.

And strengthen me to surrender and walk away.


Listen to this wonderful quote from Priscilla Shirer:

"Got an IMPOSSIBLE situation?  The anxiety it brings can wake you in the middle of a needed night's sleep and then stalk you in the middle of broad daylight.  It can sneak up on you and cast a cloak of fear and concern over your shoulders that you can't seem to shake no matter how hard you try.  It can take you down.  Squash all hope.  Stop you in your tracks.

IMPOSSIBLE.  IMPENETRABLE.  UNCHANGEABLE.

Maybe so…until God gets involved.  No matter the details of your circumstance, His raw power potential and immeasurable ability refuse to cower in the face of any challenge.

Nothing is impossible with God.

Nothing.

Not even that thing."


What's that *impossible* thing in your life right now?

What's that one situation that seems beyond fixing?

Do you think God is able?


IMPOSSIBLE = HIM-POSSIBLE

He is the King of Everything!



The Lion of the tribe of Judah
has overcome and conquered,
has triumphed, 
has won the victory!

He is able...

"I WILL LOOK UP"

All the worries of this world
I will lay them at Your feet
Surrender every anxious thought
For perfect peace, Your perfect peace.

All the loved ones I hold dear
All my hopes and dreams and all my fears
I will choose to trust Your name
In everything, with everything.

I will look up for there is none above You
I will bow down to tell You that I need You
Jesus Lord of all, Jesus Lord of all.

I will take You at Your word
For Jesus You have taken hold of me
All my life is in Your hands
You are my strength, You are my strength.

Prince of Peace, Perfect Healer
All my life, all my cares on You
King of Kings, Mighty Savior
All my life, all my cares on You.

I will look up for there is none above You
I will bow down to tell You that I need You
Jesus Lord of all, Jesus Lord of all.

I will look back and see that You are faithful
I look ahead believing You are able
Jesus Lord of all, 
You're Jesus Lord of all.

(Elevation Worship)



"Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]."(Hebrews 4:16, AMP)

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]  Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29, AMP)

"Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." (1 Peter 5:7, AMP)

"Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.  In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, AMP)

"We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose." 
(Romans 8:28, AMP)

"For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome." (Jeremiah 29:11, AMP)

"For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment." (Luke 1:37, AMP)

"Jesus looked at them intently and said, 'Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.'"(Matthew 19:26, NLT)

"O Sovereign Lord!  You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm.  Nothing is too hard for you!" (Jeremiah 32:17, NLT)

"Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] – To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever.  Amen (so be it)." (Ephesians 3:20-21, AMP)

"...'Lord, I believe!  [Constantly] help my weakness of faith!...I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!'" (Mark 9:24, AMP & NLT)

What is the *impossible* thing in your life that you need to surrender to God's *Him-possible* ways?

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