“…But with God all things are possible” (Mt 19:26)

I remember years ago as a freshman in college I took a philosophy class. I knew when signing up for the class that my faith would be challenged. As expected, on the very first day of class the professor ended by asking is God all powerful and gave us an assignment to answer a simple question. “Can God make a mountain that He Himself cannot move?” I was stunned. If I were to respond with a simple “Yes”, it would be an assertion that God wasn’t exactly all powerful, because it contended that He could make the mountain but not move it. To answer “No” would lead to the same implication, in that it would have inferred that God was limited in His power since He couldn’t actually make a mountain that He could not move. Immediately, I started formulating all kinds of longwinded answers that involved doing an in-depth 12 week study on the foundations of faith and adding several other religious catch phrases that would all amount to a hill of beans when it came to putting the question to rest. So I did what I have always done when I do not have an answer and desperately need one, I sought the Lord.

I needed this answer not just for my class but for my life! As I am writing I know there are believers and unbelievers alike who have had to face the underlying question “is God real” in one way or another whether it be by illness, tragedy, need, or some other of life‘s presentations. Ultimately, If I could not answer this simple question posed by the professor, it threatened to shake the foundation of my faith in God. So, I spent that day reading scripture, and praying in the spirit, and practicing what I would say in the mirror and I still didn‘t have it! (Incidentally, I have learned over the years, that fasting and prayer does not make God speak, it simply positions us to hear.) Still, I wanted God to give me the kind of answer that Jesus would have given the Pharisees. The kind of answer that settled the matter and demonstrated His infinite wisdom to completely put an issue to rest. Finally, I went to sleep still not having a good answer. Then in God fashion, while I was sleeping He spoke to me. In a dream I was standing at a chalkboard and as God was speaking the words were also being written on the board before me.

I heard His voice say, “Mary, Yes I can make a mountain that I Myself cannot move.

As you can imagine, I woke up grinning from ear to ear! The God of all creation had done it. It should have come as no surprise to me that the living Word who is righteously entitled to be alive in every word spoken of Him had shown himself quick and powerful. At His response, my faith was immediately elevated and I knew for certain that not only was He real, but God himself had answered me directly and knew me by name.

From that day unto this one, I am assured of Him. I have seen mountains be moved time and time again, and I have grown in confidence that the ones I now face are no match for Him! My God, who is indeed real, is a God of infinite impossibilities. If it seems preposterous, devoid of opportunity, and at best a certain disaster then it is a perfect stage for God. I say with prophetic utterance that all evidence and reasonable conjecture can come to a crescendo in perfect harmony that there is no way possible. But even then, God can move it! There have been many days that have felt as though dreams, vision, hopes, and expectation were at an end, in truth there will certainly be many more. But on each occasion, simply remember the last time it was impossible and how He has never failed. I speak to your remembrance of God and encourage your reminiscence “…But with God all things are possible” (Mt 19:26)

Mary Tiller- Woods