Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?" Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son."

Genesis 18:10-14

Impossible! When the Lord told 99-year-old Abraham that next year his 89-year-old wife Sarah would have a child, she laughed at the thought of such an impossible thing actually happening. We might laugh too. In fact, just about anyone would laugh. Such things just don't happen, especially for women who are past the age of child bearing. Yet there were two people who did not laugh: the Lord and Abraham.

The Lord was not laughing or pulling a prank. The Lord was going to make it very clear that this special son of Abraham and Sarah would be the one from whom a very special descendant would finally come—Jesus who would save all people from their sins. That's no laughing matter. And Abraham was not laughing. He understood and believed this promise of God for God can do anything and nothing is too hard for him.

Have you ever been in an "impossible situation"? Did you ever feel that there was no solution? At one time or another, we have all faced difficult or near impossible situations. The truth remains that nothing is impossible for God. He will accomplish his will, even if he does so in ways that we cannot fathom.  

In the case of the author of this devotion, the doctors told my parents that they would never have children. After adopting two children, my parents then had two of their own! Then, two months after their 25th wedding anniversary, I was born. Don't laugh, I'm not! I'm very thankful that God does what even the best doctors see as "impossible."

Think about the other "impossible things" that God does. He forgives all our sins. He makes us his children through the waters of Holy Baptism. He has given us the sure hope of heaven. He's promised to never leave or forsake us. No, we don't laugh at the impossible; we rejoice that God accomplishes the impossible.

Take a look back in your life. Look at the many times God has already done the impossible for you. Count the many blessings he's brought your way in your parents, friends, family . . . in the times that he's come to you with his words of peace and forgiveness. Look ahead to the hope of heaven which he holds before your eyes. Look and rejoice how often God easily accomplishes the impossible.

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For more than two years <p>For more than two years <em>Forward in Christ</em> has been running a series called "Confessions of Faith," in which WELS members share their personal journeys of faith. We have heard from former Mormons, Muslims, Jehovah's Witnesses, Catholics, and others and learned why they became WELS.</p>

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More and more WELS congregations are incorporating Christian artwork—whether in stained-glass windows, altar furnishings, architecture, or paintings—into their churches. But what does this mean in the worship of our Lord? What messages does it send? Last month we shared the meaning of the art and architecture at the new Chapel of the Christ at Martin Luther College.