Trent Goeckner (The grass was moving in the wind and behind it, layers I’ve never quite seen before. Colors, shapes, and depth just kept revealing themselves the further back you looked!
dv0720-Daily Verse
Author: Stephen Weller
1,254 words, 7 minutes read time
What Does Impossible Include?
For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37 ESV)
This verse standing by itself is not true because it is impossible for God to sin and still be God. As a result, that which is possible with God does not include everything but only that covered in the context of this verse.
At the time Mary was having conversation with the angel Gabriel about how she, being a virgin, could give birth to a son. “[Gabriel] answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God” (verse 35). In addition to that statement, Gabriel said, “your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren” (verse 36). Humanly speaking, both of these births would seem to be impossible, but with God they were possible.
In the context of our verse, that which is possible with God is something that is needed to do God’s assigned work that lies outside of one’s human ability. I experienced this once on one of my first trips to China. A team I was with dropped me off at an airport in Thailand, assuming everything would be ok, they continued on their journey to a pastor’s conference as I waited for my flight. I soon determined, after they had left me, that my ticked was incorrectly printed and my flight was not until the next day. I had to be at a location in China at a certain time that day to meet an unidentified person and be taken into an underground school to teach. Without money to purchase another ticket and with no direct flights to that city that day, it seemed impossible for me to meet the one I was supposed to meet. Lord, what am I to do? What followed that prayer was God doing the impossible through a series of events that I will never forget.
Father, with you that which seems impossible for us is made possible. Anything that is needed for us to accomplish our assigned work that may seem impossible is available to us. What an exciting adventure it was when you provided what seemed impossible for me one day.
The Following Addendum Is Provided by ChatGPT
Summary Theme
Nothing Is Impossible with God
Summary Paragraph
Luke 1:37 is one of the Bible’s greatest declarations of God’s unlimited power and faithfulness. Spoken by the angel Gabriel to Mary after announcing that she would miraculously conceive Jesus through the Holy Spirit, the verse also reminds Mary that her elderly relative Elizabeth has conceived a son in her old age. These two miraculous births demonstrate that God is not limited by human ability, natural law, age, or circumstance. What seems impossible from a human perspective is entirely possible with God because He is sovereign over creation and always fulfills His promises. This verse encourages believers to trust God’s power rather than their own understanding, to believe His Word even when circumstances appear hopeless, and to remember that His purposes cannot be thwarted. Faith rests not in the likelihood of an event but in the character and power of the God who has spoken.
Discussion Questions with Extended Answers:
1. What did the angel Gabriel mean when he told Mary, “For with God nothing will be impossible”?
Answer:
Gabriel was assuring Mary that God’s promises are backed by His unlimited power. Humanly speaking, a virgin cannot conceive, and an elderly, previously barren woman cannot bear a child. Yet God was accomplishing both miracles simultaneously. The statement emphasizes that God’s ability far exceeds human limitations. It does not mean God will do anything contrary to His holy nature, but it does mean that nothing He purposes is beyond His power to accomplish. For believers today, this verse reminds us that we can confidently trust God’s promises because His power guarantees His purposes.
2. Why is this verse important in understanding the birth of Jesus?
Answer:
Luke 1:37 confirms that Jesus’ birth was a supernatural act of God rather than a human achievement. The virgin birth fulfilled Old Testament prophecy (Isaiah 7:14) and demonstrated that Jesus was uniquely the Son of God. His miraculous conception preserved His sinless nature and revealed that salvation originates entirely with God. From the very beginning of Christ’s earthly life, God showed that redemption would come through divine intervention rather than human effort. The miraculous birth points forward to the equally miraculous resurrection and the supernatural work of salvation in every believer.
3. How should this verse affect the way believers pray?
Answer:
Luke 1:37 encourages believers to pray with confidence in God’s power rather than limiting their prayers to what seems humanly possible. Prayer is not based on our resources or abilities but on God’s sovereignty and wisdom. While God may not always answer according to our preferred timing or method, nothing prevents Him from accomplishing His perfect will. This verse inspires bold, faith-filled prayer while also teaching humble submission to God’s purposes. We pray believing that the God who created the universe is fully able to intervene in every circumstance.
4. Does “nothing will be impossible with God” mean believers will always receive whatever they ask for?
Answer:
No. This verse is about God’s unlimited ability to accomplish His own purposes, not a promise that every personal desire will be granted. Scripture teaches that God answers prayer according to His wisdom, His will, and His glory (1 John 5:14-15). Sometimes He says yes, sometimes no, and sometimes wait. God’s power is never lacking, but His perfect wisdom determines how that power is exercised. Therefore, believers trust not only in God’s ability but also in His goodness, knowing that His plans are always better than our own.
5. What obstacles in life does Luke 1:37 help believers overcome?
Answer:
This verse helps believers overcome fear, doubt, discouragement, and hopelessness. Difficult circumstances often tempt us to measure possibilities by human standards, but God invites us to measure them by His power instead. Whether facing illness, financial hardship, broken relationships, ministry challenges, or uncertainty about the future, believers can remember that no obstacle is greater than God’s ability to work through it. While He may not remove every difficulty immediately, He is always able to fulfill His promises and accomplish His purposes. Faith grows as we focus less on the size of our problems and more on the greatness of our God.
6. What does Luke 1:37 teach us about God’s character?
Answer:
Luke 1:37 reveals that God is omnipotent, faithful, sovereign, and trustworthy. His power has no limits, yet it is always exercised in harmony with His perfect wisdom and holiness. He always keeps His promises, regardless of how impossible they may appear from a human perspective. The same God who fulfilled His promise to Mary and Elizabeth continues to fulfill His promises throughout history and in the lives of His people today. Because God’s character never changes, believers can confidently rely on Him in every generation, knowing that no circumstance is beyond His control and no promise He has spoken will ever fail.
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