Nothing is too difficult for God!

7/23/19

I was listening to my favorite podcast last week and the guest mentioned this verse:

Ah Lord GOD! You have made heaven and earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for you. (Jeremiah 32:17)

Those words hit me. We just got back from Florida, and the waves were so strong that they would knock me back. The words of this verse hit me like that. I could feel their weight in my heart. I needed those words. I need that reminder of how powerful my God is, and I need to remember that, while He may allow me to walk through a season of uncertainty, I should never be uncertain of Him or His power.

I thought about those words over and over. I knew why I needed them, but why did Jeremiah say these words? What was going on that prompted that declaration? Why the exclamation marks? I admit it. I over use the exclamation mark. I may even abuse it, but you know who doesn’t? The writers of the Bible.  They’re not that common. So when you see them, they mean something. Jeremiah used TWO in one verse.  He was in AWE. He was yelling these words. Here’s why…

Jeremiah was in custody. So, not a great week for him. He was being held by the king because of some of his other statements, statements God had told him to say that were not favorable for the king or the country. Furthermore, his country and his city were under attack. Still worse, God had told him that the attacking armies would be successful and that his city would burn. God’s children, including the king, would be taken as prisoners. 

I might as well tell you that the reason for all of this was because God’s children had been so unfaithful. They had taken step after step away from God and his fellowship and favor. They were so far away that now they were worshiping other gods. God was not happy. As a matter of fact, he says He’s angry. I tend to think, “How awful! How dumb do you have to be to walk away from God and set your eyes on other things.” Until I remember that I do that. God is jealous and for a good reason. He knows that our salvation and our security are found in Him. We know that too. We just forget.   

Anyway, for Jeremiah, these days were beyond uncertain. This season was frightening. And yet…in the middle of all of this, God tells Jeremiah to buy his family’s property, to redeem it, and to keep it in the family. Weird, right? Here’s the beauty. In the midst of all the horror going on and whatever was to come, God gives Jeremiah hope. This terrifying season would pass. This land, so important to God’s children, would be theirs again. 

Thank you, Jeremiah, for these words, this Truth, these exclamation marks!!! In the middle of my own season of uncertainty, the Lord God gives me hope. NOTHING is too hard for Him.

Young woman,

Are things smooth and easy right now? YAY! Or are there areas of your life that are uncertain or even frightening? A job, a relationship, an emptiness? No matter what it is, your God created the heavens and the earth. His power is great! As I researched this little verse, I found that some scholars say that the “outstretched arm” of God refers to His unfinished work. If you are His child, His great power is working in you and His outstretched arm is still working for His glory in you. Dear one, join me in being encouraged despite our circumstances. Let’s take time to commit this verse to memory. We need it today and we’ll need again.

Ah Lord GOD! You have made heaven and earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for you. (Jeremiah 32:17)