nothing is difficult

About a year ago God told me that He doesn’t just want me to be a man who prays, but a man of prayer. One of the ways I have found to be most helpful for this new lifestyle of prayer is to carve out at least one full morning a week to do nothing except be with God. I usually go for a walk, bike ride or drive. I get out of the office and focus all my attention on the Lord for at least a couple hours. This past Tuesday I went to one of the local beaches and began strolling down the sand.

As I listened to the hypnotic sounds of breaking waves and seagulls, I began to think about the fact that nothing is impossible with God. I was thanking Him for taking care of us and always knowing best. I was feeling very grateful that, with God, all things are possible. But then He interjected. The Lord told me that not only is nothing impossible for Him, but nothing is even difficult.

Whoa! That was a mind bending concept! I guess it’s hard to even fathom that kind of power, because for me almost everything is difficult. Especially lately, every step has been an absolute chore! To think about being able to do anything and everything with ease and grace, without sweating, stressing, struggling…that’s just overwhelming. It sounds unbelievable. It sounds like heaven.

Just about then, I spotted a guy walking his dog down the beach in the opposite direction. From out of the blue came this thought: give that guy $20. “WHAT?! Why? That’s silly. That’s not really God. It’s not like we have money to spare. I can’t do this.” As he passed me by I even squatted down to pet his dog and heard him wish me a good day. I stood completely motionless and watched him walk away, thinking to myself, “Well, I certainly blew that one.” Then God spoke again. “See, nothing is difficult for me, but even the smallest of things is difficult for you.”

It didn’t feel mean or derogatory at all. It felt sad. I think it makes God feel sad that I have so little faith sometimes. Quite frankly, it’s sad to me too! I’ve been a Christian my whole life, raised in a pastor’s home and am a proud seminary graduate. Yet in many ways I am still a spiritual child. If only I could learn to trust Him; depend on Him; believe Him for the impossible.

I’m going to keep exercising my faith muscles. I want my life to look more and more like Elijah, Paul and Jesus. I don’t want the little things to trip me up and be so hard. I want to learn to trust God with anything and everything. I know I’m not there yet, but I am progressing. God is helping me every step of the way. Slowly but surely I’m learning to view life through God’s perspective, God’s eyes. Slowly but surely I’m letting go of my humanity and embracing His divinity.

My poor little human brain cannot possibly grasp God’s amazing plan. I have always known that nothing was impossible, but now I’m coming to see that nothing is even difficult. And if I’m in Christ, that’s true for me too! If God has called me, if I’m following His lead, not only is nothing impossible, but nothing is difficult! Woo Hoo!!!