A Youth Pastor, a Driver, and a Bimini

As I listened to this sermon, I was reminded of Genesis 3:16, "To the woman he said, "I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."  Sara laughs when God finally states that He will enable her to give birth to children, and I think it makes sense for two reasons: 1) because, as Darrell says and as is clearly indicated, she has not been able to have a children in several decades; and 2) because God told Eve she would have pain when childbearing, but now Sara cannot even have children and thus is forced to experience the painful labor of shame and a lack of fulfillment.  I would probably laugh too.

Is anything too difficult for the Lord?

Off the top of my head, I don't know if I have ever personally experienced God literally telling me something he was going or not going to do, so in that realm I don't know if I have ever had the occasion to laugh.  However, this sermon did make me think about the "laughable" times during the summer.  

Scenario 1. Difficult Youth Pastor.  Oh yeah, God?  You're still going to be glorified and work in the heart of this Youth Pastor even though he/she complains that the banana is not crazy enough, the food is terrible, the boats are too old, the water is cold, and this trip is not meeting his expectations.  And he says, "Uh,yeah, Josh, take a chill pill, won't you?"  

Is anything too difficult for the Lord?

Scenario 2. Driver Dilemma/Depression.  I'm not connecting with these kids at all.  They don't like me, they won't talk to me, are they learning, why are they here, why am I here, is God working, what's His plan, these kids are just not getting it...

Then Friday/Saturday comes and there are tears and no one wants to leave and it was "the best week of our lives!"

Is anything too difficult for the Lord?

Scenario 3. GOD, HOW AM I GLORIFYING YOU THROUGH SEWING A BIMINI??? OH, YOU'RE GOING TO USE THIS BIMINI???  Personal struggle...

Is anything too difficult for the Lord?

Anyway, I see myself laughing all the time and asking God, "Are you really going to make this happen?," "Are you sure you know what you're doing?," "How do I know?"

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Belief in God is predominantly based upon FAITH.  Faith, meaning, it is not always going to be evident at least at first.  But, when you trust in me and possess faith, AS SMALL AS A MUSTARD SEED, nothing will be impossible.

Is anything too difficult for the Lord?