Breaking Through Impossible Thinking

For years, runners believed it was physically impossible for a human being to run a mile in under four minutes. Experts claimed that the body couldn't handle it—that the heart would fail and the lungs would collapse. This belief became more than just a challenge; it became a mental barrier.

Then, in 1954, Roger Bannister stepped onto the track. He wasn't considered the fastest runner, but he refused to accept what everyone else thought was impossible. On that day, he ran the mile in 3 minutes and 59 seconds, breaking the barrier.
What's fascinating is that once this “impossible” barrier was broken, others quickly followed suit. What had once seemed unattainable suddenly became achievable.
Sometimes the greatest barriers in our lives aren't just physical—they are spiritual, emotional, and mental, deeply rooted in what we believe is impossible. However, what we think is impossible is never a limitation for God. And when God steps in, what once looked like a barrier becomes a breakthrough.

There are several instances in Scripture where God specifically speaks to the impossible thinking that we sometimes have. While these accounts are in different contexts, the message is the same: we can break through those thoughts of impossibility.

Take the birth announcement of Jesus as an example. The angel Gabriel came to Mary and announced that she would be with child. Mary questioned the angel not out of a lack of faith, but to understand how this could happen, since she was a virgin. The angel explained that God would miraculously allow the baby to be conceived and then pointed to her older cousin Elizabeth, who had previously been barren into her old age but was now expecting a child herself. The angel concluded this astonishing message with the words, "For with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37).

Later in Jesus' ministry, we come across a conversation He had with a rich young ruler. After addressing the ruler's misguided belief in a "works-based" view of salvation, Jesus explained that the miracle of salvation cannot occur without the Hand of God, who makes the impossible possible!

Matthew 19:25-26 says, "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.' “

The next time a thought of impossibility invades your mind about your needs or problems, remember that God has the final say and specializes in making the impossible possible. The key, of course, is to be aligned with the Lord so that you can receive the blessings of this truth, just as Mary did, and just as Jesus intended when speaking with the rich young ruler.
Therefore, set aside those thoughts of impossibility and remember that with God, all things are possible. But don't forget that you need to be "with God" to experience His power to make the impossible possible.