During a recent struggle with a situation, I sat stunned. I’m not at liberty to share the details, but it felt like I’d been hit by a phaser from a Sci-Fi movie.

Trying to make sense out of what refused to line-up with logic, tears blurred my vision and fatigue blurred my thinking.

Silence dominated the room. However, I wanted to hear God offer clarity and comfort. He did.

But a new stun hit me as I sensed Him asking a question.

I didn’t feel the room shake from the reality of His Presence. There was no bright light streaming through the window and onto my face.

God’s truth aimed straight for my heart. The target was unbelief.

I heard, “Joy, what if you knew the God who could do anything?”

Since God made me analytical, my thoughts rapidly moved out of stun mode and reflected on the things He’d already done.

He forgives my sin, saved my soul and preserved my family in the time of crisis. There’s infinitely more, but the list is longer than this post allows.

Truth continued, “What if you knew the God who never fails and makes all things new — especially when they are in utter failure or confusion?”

I stuttered, “But I do know that God. I know You.”

It was a needful reintroduction. Released from the focus of my struggle, new thoughts formed to worship my God — the God who can do anything. He declares it in Jeremiah 32:27 (NLT).

“I am the Lord , the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?”

He asks this question of every heart.

He knows eventually life gets too hard for us. Something looks impossible, feels terrible or discourages us to the point of giving up, unless we choose to know the God who can do anything, but fail.

There’s no problem He can’t solve or enemy He can’t defeat. There’s no soul He doesn’t love or heart He can’t comfort.

The desire to know Him is wired into our salvation.

And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. (John 17:3 NLT)

The word “know” used here is not a one time introduction; it’s an ever-increasing intimacy.

Knowing God is only made possible through faith in His Son, Jesus. (see John 14:6) My knowledge of Him deepens as I read His Word and spend time in prayer. I’m encouraged as I share life with other people who are growing in their knowledge of Him too.

You might have your own sense of stun as you seek to know Him more.

My current struggle is also my current classroom.

My desk is messy. Hurt smears the surface. There are random marks of fear and anxiety. I sit waist deep in wishing some things in life were better.

However, God’s grace sinks deeper than despair. It reminds me, He is always at work and we always have the same invitation.

There’s beauty and power in knowing the God who can do anything.

He is able to take what’s “too hard” for me and turn it into more than I could ask, think or imagine — for my good and His glory. (see Ephesians 3:19-21)

He sits with me in the messiness of life and reassures me with His love. As I trust Him, my need to know Him becomes greater than my desire to know the details of how a situation will unfold.

The details may not go according to my plan, but they can still be used to accomplish His purpose.

No matter what.

Nothing is too hard for the God who can do anything.

I continue to learn how to rest in His power through everything. Otherwise, it’s hard to find hope for the heart and joy to the soul.

The winner of last week’s drawing is Elizabeth!