Able. The word means capable, competent, proficient, skilled (thank you, Thesaurus). That’s what a child is saying when he insists, “Do it myself!” He thinks he is able.

Unable, of course, means I can’t do it myself.

When circumstances bring us to the end of ourselves and smack us in the face with our inability, we need to know Someone is able. Reaching that place, I opened my Bible and found awesome truth.

This is about Abraham. “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded, that what he had promised, he was able also to perform” (Romans 4:20-21, emphasis added).

Remember that God instructed Abraham to place his beloved son Isaac on an altar as a sacrifice. How could a father do that? He didn’t know God would intervene…or did he?

“By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead…” (Hebrews 11:17-19, emphasis added).

How could a father do that? He accounted that God was able.

This is about me. “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8, emphasis added).

God is still able to do the impossible.

God is still able to do the impossible. Click To Tweet

Do you believe that? I can believe he is able to guide you through your dark place. Sometimes I question whether he is able to do that for me.

Oh, I will declare to you in my strongest voice that God will not leave or forsake you…that his grace is sufficient for your need. And with all my heart I believe this—for you.

But believing it for myself is something else. In my dark place, God seems far away…my head is barely above water and his grace feels hardly ankle-deep. In my dark place, I wonder. Where is that God who promised never to leave or forsake me?

Have you been there? I see you at church…in the supermarket…at a social event. I unload the concerns of my heart, and you sound absolutely confident, reassuring me God is able for my circumstance. Are you believing it for your dark place as well?

That’s a real dilemma in the Christian life: staying confident that God is able, no matter what our circumstance…able for me.

That’s a real dilemma in the Christian life: staying confident that God is able, no matter what our circumstance…able for me. Click To Tweet

Once I struggled with an unreasonable fear.

Tormented by what-ifs, I talked to God about the situation triggering my fear. “If I just knew you would take care of this!”

He brought to mind Psalm 91, which I’d memorized years ago. I began quoting it to myself.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust:

his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand;

but it shall not come nigh thee.

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone…

There are four more verses, but long before I reached the end of the Psalm, truth—like a guided missile—had demolished my fear.

I have chosen to dwell in the secret place of the most High, abiding under the shadow of the Almighty. He is my refuge and my fortress. I trust in him. That’s my part. He will deliver me. That’s his part.

God is able to guide me through my dark place.

He has promised never to leave or forsake me and that his grace is sufficient…today…tomorrow…and beyond.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness…” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

God is able, isn’t he? Make up your mind!

God is able, isn’t he? Make up your mind! Click To Tweet

I hope these thoughts encourage you. Please leave a comment. And share this with a friend who needs reassurance.

© Dianne Barker 2018