Beyond What You Can Imagine

“‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the LORD. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.’” Isaiah 55:8 (NLT)

I may face seemingly impossible challenges in life. Something that couldn’t be solved without a miracle?

When that time comes, I’ll have a choice. I can wait on God’s timing and his way. Or I can take matters into my own hands and try to make a miracle happen myself.

But the truth is that miracles don’t come from the places I expect them. And they don’t come as a result of my own effort. The source of a miracle is always unexpected.

Take Abraham, for example. God told Abraham that he was going to have a son, and that the son would be the father of a great nation. Abraham was nearly 100 years old, and he and his wife had no children. It would take a miracle to make it happen.

But Abraham had trouble believing God’s promise, and he didn’t wait on God to work a miracle. Instead, he took matters into his own hands and had a child with a woman who wasn’t his wife.

That wasn’t God’s plan. God’s plan had been to work a miracle in Abraham’s wife, Sarah. Abraham’s solution was inferior to God’s.

The same is true for me. My way of making things happen is always second best—God’s way is best.

Sometimes it’s hard to understand God’s plan. In fact, if I could always understand God, I would be God. But I'm not! Isaiah 55:8 says, “‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the LORD. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine’” (NLT).

Miracles always come in unexpected ways. So there’s no need to fret, fear, or try to figure it out.  

Trust God and say, “I don’t know how God is going to do it, but I know he will do it.”

Then simply obey and follow where God leads. And get ready for a miracle.

In summary:

Isaiah 55:8 reminds me that God’s thoughts and ways are far beyond my own, especially when facing challenges that seem impossible. When I try to force solutions in my own strength—like Abraham did—I often settle for something less than God’s best. Miracles don’t come from my effort or logic; they come from God’s unexpected and perfect timing. Even when I can’t see or understand His plan, we can trust that He is working. My role is to wait patiently, obey faithfully, and believe confidently that God will come through—just not always in the way I expect.

Bottom Line:

God’s way is always better than mine—when I trust His timing and surrender control, I open the door for miracles I could never create on my own.

There Is Nothing Too Big for God

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”  Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)

God is a competent Father. He can handle any problem I give him. Nothing is beyond his ability or his resources. No request is too big or too small.

Nothing is beyond God’s ability. He is a competent Father.

A I look at media today, I see a lot of incompetent fathers. Today’s TV dad is the butt of the joke, and everybody else is in on the joke except dad. That’s the kind of father that society is promoting.

But that incompetent TV dad is nothing like my heavenly Father. The Bible teaches, “Nothing is impossible for God” (Luke 1:37 GW). 

It’s amazing to think about what my daughter expected me to fix when she was little. She thought I could know all, fix anything, and afford everything. As she grew up, she learned that their father had limited knowledge, limited energy, limited resources, limited skills—limited everything.

But your heavenly Father really can do anything. Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (NLT).

God says, “I don’t care how much I dream, He can still top it because I’m bigger. He can dream bigger than I can dream.”

Yesterday’s impossibilities are today’s miracles. God specializes in the impossible! He is a competent Father.

In summary:

Today's verse emphasizes the unmatched capability and reliability of God as my heavenly Father. Unlike the often-incompetent fathers portrayed in modern media, God is limitless in His power, wisdom, and resources. He is not restricted by human limitations, and nothing is too large or too small for Him to handle. Luke 1:37 affirms, “Nothing is impossible for God,” and Ephesians 3:20 reminds us that God is working within us to accomplish far more than we can imagine.

There is a contrast between human fathers, who inevitably have limitations, and God, who surpasses all expectations. While children may initially see their earthly parents as all-knowing and all-powerful, they eventually realize those limitations. However, with God, those childhood hopes are not misplaced—He is truly competent in every way and specializes in turning impossibilities into miracles. Trusting in His capability brings peace, hope, and the assurance that no dream is too big for Him.

 

My Faith Can Move Mountains

In reading Mark 11:22-24 it says, “Have faith in God! If you have faith in God and don’t doubt, you can tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it will. Everything you ask for in prayer will be yours, if you only have faith.” (CEV)

Faith opens the door to miracles. If I study the Bible and history, I’ll find that every time God moves on earth and does a miracle, it’s because somebody believes.

Jesus said in Mark 11:22-24, “Have faith in God! If you have faith in God and don’t doubt, you can tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it will. Everything you ask for in prayer will be yours, if you only have faith” (CEV).

Faith can move mountains! God has set up the universe in a hierarchy of laws. The law of faith is actually higher than the laws of nature. That’s where miracles come in. When someone has faith, the law of faith goes into practice and can actually do more than the laws of nature. The law of faith is what makes miracles happen.

God still performs miracles today. Every time I stretch my faith, God does miracles. So what mountain in my life needs to be moved? What’s the thing that seems like it can never change? Maybe God wants my faith to supersede the laws of nature to move that mountain.

God is in the mountain-moving business. He has moved them in the past. He is moving them today all around the world. I should never doubt or underestimate what he wants to do in my life. Matthew 13:58 says, “[Jesus] did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith” (NIV).

If I’m not seeing many miracles in my life, consider if I’m looking with eyes of fear, or with the eyes of faith? Let this be the year when I see faith open the door to miracles.

In summary, have faith in God! If I have faith in God and don’t doubt, I can tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it will. Everything I ask for in prayer will be mine. Faith opens the door to miracles. I’m learning that God has set up the universe in a hierarchy of laws. The law of faith is actually higher than the laws of nature. That’s where miracles come in. When someone has faith, the law of faith goes into practice and can actually do more than the laws of nature. The law of faith is what makes miracles happen. Every time I stretch my faith, God does miracles. God wants my faith to supersede the laws of nature to move a mountain. I should never doubt or underestimate what he wants to do in my life. If I’m not seeing many miracles, consider if I’m looking with eyes of fear, or with the eyes of faith? 

This morning, I consider what mountain in my life needs to be moved and what’s the thing that seems like it can never or hasn’t changed?  What comes to mind is that I’m not doing anything to help advance the kingdom. I only work, all though, how I do my work can make a statement. But it’s not something that I have been openly attributing to God in front of others. Also, I had backed away from being part of a small group or even leading a small group. I have volunteered to be a group leader in the coming year. I pray that I can help others and introduce and advance the kingdom with those who do not have an interment relationship with you. I need to stretch my faith and not underestimate what you want to do through me for your kingdom. I pray Father for faith to do your will. I ask you Father for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. I pray this through your Son Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.