“Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” Francis of Assisi
Can you name a miracle in the Bible that didn’t begin with someone doing something possible or even necessary? Whether it be Jesus feeding thousands with five loaves and two fishes or the woman with the issue of blood being healed by touching the hem of Jesus’ garment, the “impossible” usually follows someone first doing what is “possible.” One of my favorite examples of this paradigm is Moses.
After fleeing Egypt, Moses found himself in the wilderness, keeping his father-in-law’s flocks. During one of his “necessary” outings, he spotted the burning bush, where he then encountered the living God. He approached, took off His shoes, and walked on holy ground. What followed was Moses being charged as an agent of deliverance for God’s people who were suffering under the hands of the Egyptians. He was somewhat understandably skeptical, but the Lord proved that He would take care of the impossible part if Moses would simply obey and do the possible. Let’s read this excerpt from Exodus 4:
Then Moses said, “What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’” The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” And he said, “A staff.” Then He said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it turned into a serpent; and Moses fled from it. But the LORD said to Moses, “Reach out with your hand and grasp it by its tail”—so he reached out with his hand and caught it, and it turned into a staff in his hand— “so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”
I don’t know about you, but I am incapable of turning a staff into a snake. However, I am capable of giving what is in my hand to the Lord! Just think of how many times after this moment the Lord asked Moses to use what was in his hand right before He did a miracle? The plagues, the Red Sea, water coming from a rock, and more! The exciting thing about this reminder is that what we already have is more than enough for God to do something with. We don’t need to be more than who we are or have more than what we have. Now, the convicting part is that we must SURRENDER. If we cling to what we have instead of releasing it to the Lord, we will never see Him the miracle that He wants to do. If Moses hadn’t obeyed, he would have not led the Israelites out of captivity.
This is such good news for all of us, especially when we feel “stuck.” Personally, I cannot count how many times I have been at a loss of how to move forward, and I’m guessing you’ve experienced that sentiment at least a time or two. Whatever the reasons may be (poor physical/mental health, financial issues, grief/loss, betrayal by family or friends, I could go on and on), the truth is life can leave us feeling frozen or at a stand still. The good news is that miracles can follow us doing what is necessary. It may be getting out of bed, reading your Bible, putting on that worship song, or showing up to work. Pretty soon you’ll find yourself doing what is possible like memorizing the Word, submitting the job application, or picking up the phone to call that estranged family/friend member. God is the miracle worker, but you are responsible for doing your part. If you’re doing it as an act of pursuit of the Lord, the result may be the parting of your very own Red Sea. God is already working so tend the sheep, put down your staff, and faith that He will perform a miracle! You never know what He will do not only for your good, but for His glory. We must simply be obedient and give Him the praise from the necessary to the impossible!
Rev. Brianna Turbeville