Why You Should Strike ‘Never’ from Your Vocabulary

Some things we think we could never handle. Some things we give up hope they’ll ever happen.

The factor we leave out in both scenarios is God.

We think we could never handle some situations & believe others are hopeless. Factor we leave out in both is God. Click To Tweet

I look at a friend who moved her family to a country in turmoil to share the Gospel and think, I could never do that.

I watch a family navigate the road of brutal health issues and think, I could never handle that.

I hear of a situation that requires miraculous intervention to remedy and think, that will never happen.

I see the evil, the tragedy, the horrific events that turn stomachs and think, it will never get better.

I base these assumptions on what I know about myself and how life works, while ignoring the most important factor in all of life: God!

With God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26)! 

Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, we receive the faith to do that thing we thought impossible, we have divine strength to deal with the most difficult circumstance. 

In Christ, we have a hope that surpasses all human understanding! Even in a situation we deem hopeless. 

All is lost in our feeble strength.

The nevers prevail when we look to mankind. 

But hope against all hope (Romans 4:18) reigns in God’s Kingdom.

God’s Power in the Midst of Our Never

Our nevers are based on imperfect sight and limited understanding. We see this played many times in Scripture. Like us, our biblical ancestors believed in impossibilities: 

Gideon couldn’t see how he’d ever defeat the Midianites with the few people God allowed him (Judges 7).

Moses didn’t believe he could rescue his people from slavery (Exodus 3).

Sarah secretly laughed at God’s suggestion that she would have a baby at her advanced age (Genesis 18:12).

Because Jesus arrived after Lazarus death, Martha and Mary never believed they’d see their brother alive again until resurrection day (John 11). 

The disciples were distraught and fearful, struggling to understand how Jesus, their Messiah, could reign after dying on a cross, until they saw the evidence (John 20:9). 

But then God demonstrated His possibilities:

Gideon defeated the entire Midianite army with 300 men armed with trumpets and torches.

Moses led his people out of Egypt, through the Red Sea and the wilderness, right up to the Promised Land. 

Sarah gave birth to Isaac at the age of 90 and became the matriarch of God’s chosen people. 

Jesus brought Lazarus back to life after 4 days in the tomb “so they may believe You sent me” (John 11:42).

Jesus breathed joy and peace back into His disciples by appearing to them after His resurrection (John 20:19-29).

With God, impossibles become possibles; nevers become yeses.

With God, impossibles become possibles; nevers become yeses. Click To Tweet

Living in Light of the God Factor

As Christians, we have God’s perfect sight, understanding, and strength to rely on. The Father’s will far surpasses anything we can imagine. 

For God is God. His power and capability far surpass anything we can comprehend.

So instead of looking at the impossibility of a situation, look to the possibility of God. Instead of trusting in your own understanding and experience, trust in the unfathomable vastness of God and the good plan He has in place. 

In light of the greatness of our Lord, let’s put away our uncertainties. Because with God never becomes a possibility. 

It’s past time to shelve our “never” and adopt a new phrase, one punctuated with “if God wills.”

In light of the greatness of our Lord, let's shelve our 'never' & adopt a new phrase: 'if God wills.' Click To Tweet

“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.” Psalm 145:3

“Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.” Psalm 147:5

Reflections: In which kinds of situations do you tend to think, never!? What difference might it make in your life if you shelved your “never” and adopted “if God wills”? 

By His grace ≈

Julie