Advent: Nothing is Impossible

For nothing will be impossible with God.
Luke 1:37

When faced with a seemingly insurmountable task, I can often be heard quoting (or, to be completely honest, often muttering under my breath) the verse above.  What I tend to forget is the context in which this statement is found.

This week's advent study is in Luke 1:26 - 56, the angel Gabriel's appearance to Mary, and his startling declaration that she would become supernaturally pregnant with a child - a child that would grow to fulfill the prophecies of a Savior.

It is understandable that this may not have been good news.  Mary was betrothed, and there was a good chance that after finding out she was pregnant, Joseph would abandon her.  I'm certain her own family had their doubts about her story, not to mention the skepticism of the townspeople.  People being what they are, you can imagine the sniping and gossiping that went on all throughout her pregnancy.

Yet the angel reassures her, "Nothing is impossible with God."  He was speaking of the miracle of Jesus' conception, but for Mary, the implications went further.  With God, she could bear the talk around town about her "wild" story, the accusations of premarital hanky-panky, the hardships of traveling at nine months pregnant, giving birth in a barn.  She could stand up under the pressure of raising a son like no other, she would be sustained when she witnessed His ministry, His trial and eventual death.

With God, nothing is impossible.  Not the miraculous stepping into time and space of the Creator of the universe, nor the quiet, day by day sustaining of His people.