Missing Out on Miracles
Have you ever noticed the many similarities between the Bible characters, Joseph and Daniel? Both were men of integrity and perseverance. Both were tried for their faith. Both became slaves. Both men found themselves in a pit and then a palace. And both had the gift of interpreting dreams. I never really noticed how much these men had in common until recently when I was studying about Joseph for my Sunday School class and reading in Daniel for my daily devotions.
Interestingly enough, I found another similarity that is easy to overlook yet holds such a powerful lesson for us. Check out these verses below:
And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad. And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day? Andthey said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is nointerpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretationsbelong to God? tell me them, I pray you. - Genesis 40:6-8
Theking answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: ifye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretationthereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made adunghill. . .The Chaldeans answeredbefore the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that canshew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler,that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. - Daniel 2:5-10
On both accounts, there was a dream and a desire for an interpretation of that dream. And at the same time, we see a common viewpoint from some of the key characters--"It's impossible. Nobody can do that!" The butler, the baker and the Chaldeans all agreed that the task before them was an impossible one. But if we continue reading each passage, we'll see that that's certainly not the case. God allowed both Joseph and Daniel to interpret dreams on more than one occasion.
So, what's the lesson for us? Simply this. Just because we can't see how something will work doesn't mean that it won't. Because something seems impossible doesn't mean it is. Simply because it appears that there's no hope doesn't mean that there isn't. And just because we don't know the answer doesn't mean that there isn't one.
Too many times in life we're like the butler and baker, sitting in our self-made prisons and complaining about the things that didn't work out the way they should have. We're sad, discouraged and frustrated. Like the Chaldeans, we're ready to throw up our hands and cry, "Nope, it's too hard. That's just too much to ask. It's impossible!" And we quit. We quit on God. We quit on life. We quit on our families. We quit church. We give in, give up and give out. And all the while, we leave our miracles on the shelf. God would have worked through us. God would have made the way. He's promised us that time and time again. But we give up before He has the chance to perform His plan. How many blessings have we missed out on because we didn't think it was possible?
You may be facing a situation today that looks impossible. You may not see a way out. The solutions may be far beyond what you can see. As far as you're concerned, there is no hope. But, my friend, don't let Satan deceive you. As long as Jesus lives, there is always hope. He is the Way. And God specializes in the impossible. You may not see it. You may not understand it. But you don't have to. Just believe, and hang in there. Don't give up. After all, you don't want to miss out on another miracle!
And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. - Luke 18:27