Nothing

"Is anything too difficult for the Lord..." (Genesis 18:14).

I have recently been reading through the Book of Genesis. Yesterday, I arrived at this particular passage. Boy was it ever a timely word from the Lord that ministered grace and mercy to my heart. What a question! Is anything too difficult for the Lord?

Surveying the new normal of our life, I sometimes stress and become anxious concerning the multitude of uncertainties. Being completely transparent, there have been days I've struggled wondering how Micah will stay healthy and out of the hospital. Other days, I sink low as I try to fight off the thoughts of this liver failing Micah when he's 8 or 13 or even 21. While I realize God is working in us (and hopefully through us) as He prepares us for what He has around the bend or just over the hill, the struggle in my own heart in regard to the uncertainties and possibilities that may (or may not) face us in the future still persist.

Then I come to a passage like this one in Genesis chapter 18. Praise the Lord for encouraging my heart and reminding me once again of who He is and what He does. The context is probably familiar to you even if the chapter number does not immediately lend itself that way. In this passage, Abraham and Sarah have just received the word and promise from the Lord that in one year's time Sarah will give birth to a child, a boy, who God wanted to be named Isaac. Now that may seem like not such a big deal. But we're talking about a man 100 years old and whose wife is no spring chicken herself at 90 years old.

As a matter of fact, reading the passage, I can almost see the scene. For when Abraham hears the message, he bursts into laughter. The thought of him and the wife of his youth having a newborn baby to feed, with dirty diapers to change and the turbulent twos (or threes for that matter) to try to handle in the appropriate manner seemed absurdly funny. The scene almost repeats itself verbatim when Sarah hears the message from the Lord. She too laughs at the idea that she would bear a child at such an old age.

In response, however, the Lord faithfully reminded both Abraham and Sarah of the same truth of which He reminded me just yesterday. The Lord said, "I am God. I can do it. I'm just that big!" Now He didn't say it just like that. Instead, He implied it through the question He posed to them. They knew the answer to the question. He need not give any hints, helps or clues.

There is NOTHING too difficult for the Lord. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ stated it this way: "With men it is impossible, but not with God. For with God, all things are possible."

When you really think about it, we're pretty funny in the way we respond to the Lord. You don't hear a lot of Christians going crazy at the fact that God is able to raise the sun every morning. We don't ponder long and hard how He kept the world spinning through the night and at just the right angle so that we didn't freeze or burn up. Yet, when we face troubles and difficulties which cause us to immediately stress, worry or live with an anxious spirit, God gets a demotion in our book in both position and power. Suddenly, the God who raised the sun, kept the world spinning at just the right angle and does a million other things which are necessary for life to continue (but for which we fail to stop to take note) is not able to work in our situation.

He does not retain the position of being the Lord of the Universe, the Master of the Seas, the Great Physician, the Great Shepherd, the Prince of Peace, the All-Knowing, All-Powerful and All-Sufficient God. He does not retain the power to do anything that does not contradict His character or His will. For us, He ceases to be the God who has the power to give and take away. We demote the Lord.

I was convicted that I made my circumstances BIG and God so small. Is there anything too difficult for the Lord? Is there anything that He cannot do so long as it is in conformity with His character and His will? Is God able to keep Micah healthy until he is 8 or 18 or 88? Is the God of the Bible strong and powerful enough to do it? If not, I guess I have reason to be concerned, to live stressed, to have an anxious heart that causes me deep depression.

But God is able! NOTHING is too difficult for Him.

Tomorrow, Micah will have his central line removed. The intent was to leave the central line in, even when he came home, so that blood could be drawn from that port since he will have a good bit of blood drawn over the next several weeks. However, the doctors believe there may be infection related to the central line which is the cause of the fever and elevated white blood cells. So Micah, who has certainly gained quite the appetite, won't be able to eat from 6:00 AM until after the procedure.

There is still no certainty about when he might come home. Some of the doctors have indicated it could be the middle part of the week at the soonest. We'll continue to pray, wait and hope that no fevers return and he is able to come home this week.

His levels have continued to remain where they should be, minus the white blood cell count. I think I mentioned it before, but it is worth repeating that his bilirubin level is 1.2 (the top of the normal range). How is that for a miraculous work of the Lord?! He is eating well, smiling a lot and growing more and more active. And yesterday, Sarah noticed the first tooth. Soon that bright and toothless smile will have some pearly whites behind it.

If you would, please continue to pray for Micah. Pray specifically that he will do well with tomorrow's procedure (preparation, during and after). Pray the fevers do not return and that the Lord will shield his body from infection. We are also praying that he can come home this week. Finally, pray our time that God has appointed for us to be at Duke will be spent seeking to glorify Him and leading others to know and glorify Him.