When your situation looks impossible

“For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37 ESV) 

The Worst Day of My Life, when everything looked impossible!

It was the winter of 1967, and I was living in Sitka, Alaska, where I worked at a grocery store. One day, I was scheduled to work the late shift, but when I arrived, the store manager called me into his office and accused me of doing something the previous day that I absolutely had not done. It was his word against mine, and I could not prove my innocence. He angrily fired me and ordered me to leave the store. 

I Did Not See It Coming

In complete shock, I headed home to my apartment. When I arrived, a group of my friends was there having a party. Usually, I wouldn’t have minded, but I wasn’t in a party mood. When I insisted they leave, they beat me up and threw me outside into the snow. I pulled myself together and walked to my landlord’s home nearby, telling him about the drunken people in my apartment. I asked him to help me get them out, but he just yelled profanities at me and said he was going to call the police. I quickly left the scene because I didn't want to be there when the police arrived. 

I Didn't Know What to Do or Who to Turn To

It was a bitterly cold Alaska night, and I was freezing. I walked to my parents' house and knocked on their door. My dad answered. I told him what had happened and that I didn’t know what to do or where to go. I asked if I could come in and sleep on their couch for the night. But he angrily told me to grow up, take responsibility for my own problems, and go away. He shut the door in my face and turned off the porch light.

I Thought Suicide Was My Only Answer

I walked along the dark street, feeling panic-stricken, confused, rejected, and very cold. I tried hard to figure out what to do next, but I couldn't think of any answers. I felt completely out of options. At that moment, I decided that suicide was my only answer. I had some money in my pocket, so I would get drunk and then end my life.

I went to a nightclub and began to drink one drink after another. At the back of the room was a small dance band. During one of their breaks, the band leader came to the bar near where I was sitting. As he waited for his drink, our eyes met. He smiled and asked, “How are you?“ I replied, “Do you really want to know, or are you just saying that?“ He responded,  “Of course I want to know how you are.”

“Well,” I said, “today has been the worst day of my life! I lost my job, got thrown out of my apartment, and was beaten up by my friends! My landlord wouldn’t help but instead called the cops on me! Even my own parents won’t let me sleep on their couch. I have nowhere to go, so as soon as I finish this drink, I’m going to end my life!”

Without hesitation, he said, “No, please don't do that! My family and I live nearby. We have a couch you can sleep on. Come stay with us!”

His instant kindness kept me from the worst possible outcome. This person, Jean Dawkins, and his wife changed the course of my life.

Shortly after I went to live with them, he lost the bass player in his band and immediately offered me the position as a replacement. It was a dream job for me. I had a place to stay, wonderful, kind people to live with, and I got to play music. I really loved it. I played with them for several months while they finished their contract in Sitka.

Then they decided to move to a town I had never heard of—Lynden, in the state of Washington—and they brought me with them! It was in Lynden that I heard about Jesus Christ, received Him as my personal Savior, and met and married Susan, the woman of my dreams. I also began attending classes at Vancouver Bible College and became an ordained minister. As part of my training, I learned how to do advertising, publications, and direct mail marketing. I became very successful at it and started helping others advertise their businesses. This eventually led me to specialize in advertising and marketing for the automotive recycling industry for nearly 40 years, where I have met so many dear friends. And today, after retiring, it is my privilege and honor to continue in this industry as chaplain. Looking back, I can plainly see God’s hand was in it every step of the way. 

God does the impossible

Many times, in life, we may face situations that look impossible. Like I did on what felt like the worst day of my life, it can be hard, even impossible, to see a way through it. But God is never taken by surprise and often turns what looks impossible to us into His perfect plan for us. Nothing is impossible for Him!

“But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matt. 19:26 ESV)

“Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.” (Jer. 32:17 ESV)

“Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” (Gen. 18:14 ESV)

“And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” (Mark. 9:23 ESV)

Therefore

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” (Eph. 3:20 ESV)

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Eph. 4:13 ESV) 

Quote:

“Darkness comes. In the middle of it, the future looks blank. The temptation to quit is huge. Don't. You are in good company... You will argue with yourself that there is no way forward. But with God, nothing is impossible. He has more ropes and ladders and tunnels out of pits than you can conceive. Wait. Pray without ceasing. Hope.” - John Piper