Is the arm of the Lord too short?

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The end of anxiety and despair”

Our Bible verse for today: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Is the arm of the Lord too short?”

So, how bad is it? I’m referring to your situation – whatever your situation may be. How bad is it? The rent is due, but so are a dozen other bills. Your teenager is in rebellion (again) and you’re sure you can’t stand it one more minute. The report from the doctor wasn’t good, the car is acting up, your boss is a jerk …

Maybe it’s just a minor annoyance, or maybe it’s a life and death issue, but many times our problems seem overwhelming and never ending. And in such moments, we can find ourselves wondering if there’s any help for us, any solution at all.

Sarah felt that way in Genesis 18:1-15 when the angels informed Abraham that she would have a child in her old age. Sarah overheard that and laughed at the absurdity of such a thought. But God replied in verse 14, “Is anything impossible for the Lord?” (She had her baby).

The nation of Israel felt that way when they were wandering in the wilderness, eating nothing but manna day after day, meal after meal, for months and years on end. They doubted that God would or even could provide them with anything else to eat. But in Numbers 11:23 we read Moses asking them, “Is the arm of the Lord weak? Now you will see whether or not what I have promised will happen to you.” (God gave them a rainstorm of quail dropping out of the sky).

Even when it seems as if there’s no solution, it’s still true that nothing is too hard for God. Isaiah declared this truth to the Jews when they were facing what seemed to be an impending calamity, “Indeed, the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, and his ear is not too deaf to hear.” Isaiah 59:1

We know these things to be true of God. We know He is sovereign, and supreme, and all-mighty, and there is nothing He cannot do. And we know He has a pretty good track record too – historically across the ages as well as in our own lives.

But still, we have doubts and fears about our own current situations. Hannah Whitehall Smith once asked her readers, “You have no difficulty in trusting the Lord with the management of the universe, and all the outward creation, and can your case be any more complex or difficult than these, that you need to be anxious or troubled about His management of you?” Good point. That’s pretty much what Jesus was saying in Matthew 19:26. Nothing is too hard for God. Not even your current situation.

And the answer to our opening question, “Is the arm of the Lord too short?” Well, no. No it is not.

God bless,

Pastor Jim