When the Impossible Mocks You
Do you have an impossible thing in your life? It mockingly reminds you that you are powerless against its control. You have begun to feel that the pain, confusion, and oppression are your lot in life. It might even tell you that you deserve them.
I know this thing well. It has taken many forms in my life, but each time it follows the same pattern. When you try to stand against it, it punishes and condemns you, putting you back in your place. The pain creates a Pavlovian response, conditioning you to fear even approaching it because you have been down that road before. Just comply, hide, and hope it leaves you alone. Then you will be fine. I hate to tell you this, but it sees your pleas for peace as surrender to its might.
“Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor.’” Joshua 6:1–2 ESV
Evil’s Lullaby
We think life would be fine if the impossible thing would just leave us alone—but it will not. Since the fall of humanity, there has been a struggle for control, a cruel survival of the fittest that possesses no mercy. Only under Christ can we rest in the shadow of mercy. You cannot kill oppression with kindness. It may give you a momentary lull—a reward for cowering—but that reward is not for being good. It is conditioning you to accept brief moments of peace while remaining under its control.
It is a deceptive lullaby that keeps you still while it gains more ground.
You recover from the last attack and hope for the best. You walk on eggshells, praying it will not return, but it does. It returns more frequently until peace becomes only a wish for which we sell our courage and shrink our souls.
“But Joshua commanded the people, ‘You shall not shout the battle cry nor let your voice be heard nor let a word come out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout!’” Joshua 6:10 AMP
We See
Like the impenetrable walls of Jericho, the thing may seem impossible. We cannot move it by ourselves, but God can use us to bring it down—and do so with pizazz. When Joshua faced the walls of Jericho, the first thing God told him to do was see. Before the walls had fallen, God said, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand.”
The key is to stop and look at the situation with God by our side. The enemy may be scrambling to fortify its walls, but we must see ourselves through the eyes of faith. The pressure to oppress us may be so great because of our potential. With God, we are a threat to what has oppressed us. We need to encircle this thing as a lion circles its prey, size it up before the Lord, and praise Him because we know He can bring it down. That is the essential preparation that fills our shout with power.
“Now you shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do this once each day for six days. Also, seven priests shall carry seven trumpets made of rams’ horns ahead of the ark.” Joshua 6:3–4 AMP
We Silence
Sometimes we speak too soon, hoping our words alone will do their part. The shout at Jericho was not an isolated act. It was the culmination of consistent faith and obedience after days of trusting God and marching quietly. Marching represents disciplined practice. We march around our impossible things and silence the noise. We quiet our doubts by lifting them to God. It is a holy exercise of faith that cannot be contained in words.
We take small steps, as Israel marched once each day, and we do not obsess. After our march, we use our faith to put the problem away, return to camp, and live. We stop constantly speaking about its oppression, pain, and power.
“Then on the seventh day, they got up early at daybreak and marched around the city in the same way seven times; only on that day they marched around the city seven times. And the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, ‘Shout! For the Lord has given you the city.’” Joshua 6:15–16 AMP
We Size It Up
How do we stay silent about something that has wreaked havoc in our lives? As we march, we present the height and strength of the enemy to God. We walk around its tallest, most fortified walls and silence our fears by comparing them with the size of our God. We quiet our insecurities with confidence that God is able. We look at the impossible thing with the prayer of the desperate father: “I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:24 ESV
Each day, its power over our spirits and minds becomes weaker. We may have to redirect our thoughts a million times a day, but we grow stronger, and it becomes easier. We do not try to wrestle the impossible thing to the ground in our own strength. We wear away its hold on us by building our faith through silent, holy, and disciplined prayer.
We Shout
The priests blew their trumpets, and the trumpets—not words—were the first sound. Their call represents the deepest groaning of our hearts and spirits, which words cannot contain. Daily, within our groaning, we find God, and He builds our battle cry. From the depths of our hearts, we lift our praise and fears to Him, magnifying Him above the highest and strongest wall.
The enemy once made our knees quake and our hearts stop, but now we see through eyes of faith. Like an army, we have conditioned ourselves each day to believe instead of worry. We surround the impenetrable thing, see our God magnified above it, and feel our faith in His ability rise. Then we shout and watch the wall crumble.
“So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.” Joshua 6:20 ESV
We Bring the Thing: A Prayer
God, I lay this thing before Your throne. Even now, it is running and fortifying its walls, hoping I will not rise. But deep inside me, there is a seed of faith. Each day, I will acknowledge Your sovereignty over its power, pain, and control. I thank You that I can see its defeat in my heart and mind as my faith rises through time spent with You.
I will live with peace and joy, knowing its day is coming. God, it may be impossible for a person, but with You, all things are possible. I believe You can do this; help my unbelief. I will silence words of doubt and fear as I march with joy. On the appointed day, I will shout, and the wall will fall. Thank You, God, that You are my deliverance and my song.
“The Lord is my strength and my song; He has given me victory.” Exodus 15:2 NLT
Disclaimer
This blog is intended for spiritual encouragement and general educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical, mental health, legal, or counseling advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
If your impossible situation involves abuse, trauma, PTSD, mental illness, or danger, please seek help from an appropriately licensed professional. Discuss these suggestions with your counselor and ask which approaches are appropriate for your circumstances. If you are in immediate danger or experiencing a crisis, contact local emergency services or a crisis support service in your area.
