Praise the Lord, everyone. It is such a blessing to be with you today. I want to start by thanking God, our pastor, and this church for the opportunity to share a few thoughts from my heart.
As I sat there listening to the testimonies, I was particularly moved by Kripa. There was such a softness and a profound trust in the way she spoke. She invited us into her life, even into the tiniest things, as if to say, "You are my family; can you walk with me through this?". It reminded me that it’s okay to let people in and share the journey of our struggles. I’ll admit, I often keep my own progress hidden, but her words were a sweet reminder of the power of community.
I also had to laugh at myself while preparing this message. I usually jot my thoughts down on my phone, and to save time on spell-checking, I submitted my notes to an AI. When it finished, the AI actually told me, "Robin, here is the spell-check version... praying it all goes well". It’s amazing how hard they are trying to make technology "personalized" these days!.
Today, I want to talk to you about the weight of the "impossible".
The Weight of an Impossible Call
Consider the story of Moses. If we really stop to think about what God asked of him, it was staggering. Moses was a fugitive running from a murder charge. God called him to go back to the very place he fled, stand before Pharaoh, and demand the release of the entire Jewish workforce.
Moses had no army, no weapons, and he couldn't even speak well. He had no idea he’d be going back and forth through ten plagues. He was caught in the middle of a destiny he couldn't walk away from—trapped in an impossible situation. Yet, before God ever appeared in the burning bush, He already knew exactly how that story was going to end.
Facing a Desolate Place
In the New Testament, Jesus invited His disciples to carry a similar impossible burden. Let’s look at Mark 8:1–4:
"In those days, when there was again a large crowd and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples and said to them, 'I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way, and some of them have come from a great distance.' And His disciples answered Him, 'Where will anyone be able to find enough bread here in this desolate place to satisfy these people?'"
Jesus had spent three days healing the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Now, He calls a "board meeting" and puts the problem of their hunger directly on the disciples' plates.
The Three Impossible Limitations
The disciples identified three limitations that we often face when God gives us a task:
The Limitation of Location: They were in a "remote place". When you are in a remote place, there are no resources and no one to hear you. You feel completely alone in your pain.
The Limitation of People: They asked, "Where can anyone be found?". This was beyond the capacity of even the twelve disciples. We often search for "anyone" to help us—reaching out to friends in high positions or managers we know. I tried this recently for my brother-in-law's job search, but even with all my resources, no one could help. There is a point where a problem becomes humanly impossible to solve.
The Limitation of Resources: They needed "enough bread". Jesus wasn't asking for a sample or a taste; He wanted them filled to the brim so they wouldn't collapse on the way home. Feeding 4,000 men—not counting women and children—was a staggering requirement.
Jesus as the Unlimited Resource
When the disciples laid out their impossibilities, Jesus responded not with questions, but with action. Let's continue with Mark 8:5-9:
"And He was asking them, 'How many loaves do you have?' They said, 'Seven.' He directed the people to sit down on the ground; and taking the seven loaves. He gave thanks and broke them, and started giving them to His disciples to serve to them, and they served them to the people. They also had a few small fish; and after had blessed them. He ordered these to be served as well, and they ate and were satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces. About four thousand were there; and He sent them away."
In every limitation, Jesus was the answer. In the remote place, He was the answer. When they couldn't find "anyone," He was the capacity they needed. When they lacked resources, He was the unlimited supply.
Why the Impossible Journey?
If Jesus knew it was impossible, why did He ask them to do it?. Why does God allow us to carry burdens that feel too heavy?.
I believe it’s because we often take God’s grace for granted. We narrowly escape accidents on the way home without even thinking about it. God sometimes makes us pause in an impossible task so we can realize just how much we need Him. When He shows up in those moments, there is no question who rescued us and no question how amazing our God is.
No matter what challenge or mountain you are facing, God is your answer. He takes what little you have and multiplies it beyond your capacity. He already knows the ending of your story before He ever invites you on the journey.
Let us pray. Lord, we thank You that You are the Lord over the impossible. Strengthen Your people for the hills they are climbing and the burdens they are carrying. We trust You, knowing You have already written the final chapter. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
