~Lowri Ann Clark

Jeremiah’s prayer:
“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.” Jeremiah 32:17

And the Lord’s response:
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27 
“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

My two sons just finished their first two weeks of hockey training, and it was hard work. Preparing, getting ready, putting on all their gear from head to toe, and tying laces was quite a challenge. The moment we arrived at the locker room, they were excited to see other children getting ready, so they were easily distracted. Then came the hard part: putting on all the equipment, from the helmet to tying the skate laces.

My oldest son turned red, his eyes welled up with tears, and he started taking off all his gear. He went to the washroom to cry out his frustration. It was hard to see him feeling so overwhelmed. As a mother, I want my son to have the courage to face difficult moments and overcome the emotions that hold him back. So, I stayed calm and stepped out of the room. I took a deep breath and prayed, choosing to let the Spirit of God help both my son and me.

A week after another training day, my son, all geared up, looked at me and said, “It’s not that hard, I just need to focus.” While the sport preparation seemed irrational, my son prayed and declared, “It’s not hard, I just need to focus.” This line reminded me of Jeremiah 32:16–21, when the prophet Jeremiah prayed, asking for God’s understanding and strengthening his faith by recalling that “There is nothing too hard” for the Lord and rehearsing the great things God has done for Israel. As believers, we can build faith in the present by recalling the past faithfulness of the Lord. When life brings us frustration and doubt, and things feel too hard to handle, the Spirit of God always points us to His Word and promises.

Father God in heaven, thank You for showing us Your loving-kindness and great wisdom. When things feel difficult, we can always look back at Your signs and wonders, knowing that You are great and that nothing is too hard for You. Thank You for reassuring us that when we keep our eyes fixed on You, Your presence gives us peace You give us the strength we need. In Jesus Christ Name, Amen.