“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” - Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

Something puzzling yet certain is that believers are often faced with circumstances where the odds seem overwhelming. This is not unique. Moses was faced with a set of overwhelming circumstances, starting with the uphill battle of convincing a hardened king to release the Israelis and moving with a restless crowd through a harsh desert that was quick to lose faith after facing  set backs. The Apostle Paul survived a shipwreck and was often beset with betrayals and imprisonment. Abraham aged in years without a child, that when Sarah heard God promising so, she had as many doubts, as she looked at her bodily circumstances.

About circumstances, sometimes they threaten to pose like the reality. From a physical angle this might appear the case. But from God’s angle, any circumstances are just temporal and quite powerless. There is always a greater force to overwhelm any circumstances  which appears threatening.

For all his might once Moses turned to God the opposition which Pharaoh set before him melted away. This proved the case all through the journey to the promised land where other no less formidable circumstances rose. The Apostle Paul was delivered through shipwrecks and imprisonments as God came to his rescue. At the appointed time, in spite of all the doubts of Sarah who had seen her bodily circumstances and lost hope, God came through and enabled her to deliver a son. “Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him” (Genesis 21:2)

Any of us may be faced with circumstances where the odds appear insurmountable. From a physical angle we are as good as finished. It could be a health care crisis. There are financial challenges that people face. It might be opposition welling up against one’s professional progress. Sometimes people face tussles with powerful neighbors over land and other relational issues.   

When we are faced with whatever circumstances, we should know there is always a greater power that can make any moot. Life is not all about what is seen by the naked eye. As believers we must not let circumstances dictate our lives with doubts and disbelief, but rather turn to God, “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20)

Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, faced with circumstances that seem overwhelming I know you are able and greater than any force around and so I am rested for through you I have overcome, this I pray in Jesus name.