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Impossible! But That’s not What God Said
By Rebecca Ondov
“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With
man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God’”
(Mark 10:27 NIV)
Opening a copy of a "Guideposts" magazine, I snuggled into
my favorite overstuffed chair. I scooted sideways, propping my legs over the arm
and basking my feet next to the woodstove, which radiated warmth through my
socks. I always enjoyed reading the stories about people overcoming obstacles in
their lives. I twirled a strand of my long blond hair around my finger as I
flipped pages. Suddenly a headline jumped out at me, “If you want to tell a
story....” It was an announcement for the every-other year contest Guideposts
magazine held. The article invited people to submit a manuscript. Guideposts
would choose 15 winners and fly those people, all-expenses-paid, to New York
where they’d put them up in a mansion on Long Island Sound for a week of
personal tutoring from some of the top Christian authors in the world.
As I flipped the page, a voice as loud as a megaphone rang
through my spirit, “Write a manuscript and submit it.”
I shook my head and looked around the empty living room.
Then the voice blasted forth again, “Write a manuscript.” Obviously it was God.
Cold sweat beaded on my forehead as fear trickled into my
soul. I slammed the magazine closed and said, “Impossible!! God, You’ve got the
wrong girl! Obviously You don’t know who I am. I’m the one who typed out all my
college papers using black ink—and they were always returned—in red! I don’t
know how to write … I hate writing. I’m a horse girl—I ride horses—I don’t
write.” With that, I stormed out of the living room.
But God didn’t give up. Over the next couple months God’s
haunting words rang through my spirit. As the deadline for the manuscript
approached, His voice became more persistent and urgent. Finally the night
before the manuscript was due, I caved in. I plunked away at the keyboard,
printed the first draft, and dropped it in the mail with the words, “There, it’s
done. I told You—I’m not a writer. I only did this because I love You.”
A couple weeks later the phone rang. The voice with the New
York accent announced that I’d won. Later I learned that my manuscript was
chosen out of 5400 entries and it tied for first place.
That was in 1992. Since then, I’ve learned that God loves
to ask me to do the impossible—because that’s when I have to lean on Him and
what shines through is Jesus. Come visit my Website and see what He’s done since
then—I’m truly humbled and grateful that He chose me. Visit my site:
http://rebeccaondov.com
Has God ever asked you to do the impossible? Feel like He’s
got the wrong person? He chose you, out of everyone in the whole world, to do
what He asked. Here’s a wonderful prayer I’ve learned to say, “Lord, I know that
what you’re asking me to do is impossible by the world’s standards. That excites
me. That means that You’re going to show up in a BIG way. Give me the courage to
press in and the wisdom to succeed. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.”
Rebecca Ondov
Especially For Women
Friday Study Ministries, Inc.
Gen@FridayStudy.org
www.FridayStudy.org
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