There is nothing difficult

This morning I was thinking about God and the concept of difficulty. We often say phrases like "nothing is too difficult for God". Like some things for him are harder than others, but nothing manages to overwhelm him.

But then you think, does the word 'difficult' even apply? Does God find anything remotely hard? God just speaks and the Universe obeys. In fact, the whole universe was created by his word. God speaks, stuff happens, there is no 'difficult'.

As I was thinking about this I had the book of Psalms open and happened to read Psalm 29:

³ The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters.

⁴ The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

⁷ The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.

⁸ The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

⁹ The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, "Glory!"

¹⁰ The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.

¹¹ May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!

When we think about prayer, no request is bigger or harder or more difficult for God than any other. And nothing is too small, because his love is great and his capacity is infinite. We just need God to speak, to hear his voice.

Get with the times...

"In the whole of world history there is only one really significant hour—the present... If you want to find eternity, you must serve the times."
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, p80-81

Growing and Shrinking

Had an interesting conversation with my brother-in-law yesterday. We were talking about various opportunities in life that can be very nerve-racking and challenging. Challenges that basically throw you in at the deep end in a sink-or-swim scenario. Challenges that freak you out a little bit, and threaten you with a good dose of humiliation should it go bad.

They're the sort of challenges that can offer something amazing, and make you feel like a king, but where the risk of failure is quite high.

When those opportunities are presented to you, there's no going back. You will either shrink or grow as a person. If you take it on, you will grow and learn, whatever happens. And it may go very well. If it goes badly, you will still grow as you will no doubt learn something. And you had the courage to give it a go.

But it you decline such an opportunity, you inevitably shrink as a person. You reject a new experience, and perhaps reinforce your fearful tendencies. The opportunity may never come round again.