How to Tackle the Impossible

by Rick Warren — October 18, 2024
From Unshakable!

“Get the facts at any price.”

Proverbs 23:23 (TLB)

Has someone ever asked you to do something you thought was impossible? Maybe a friend, boss, or parent came to you and wanted you to do something that seemed too big for you to accomplish on your own.

You may be facing such a request right now. You’re wondering how in the world you’ll even get started!

Over the next few devotionals, I’ll share with you what the Bible says about tackling the impossible.

But let’s begin by talking about where to start: First, don’t panic.

Follow the pattern of Daniel. In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar went to his astrologers with a desperate need for them to interpret a dream. When they couldn’t do it, he ordered that all his advisers be executed, including Daniel and his friends.

When Daniel heard the news, he didn’t let fear consume him. Instead he tactfully asked Arioch, commander of the king’s bodyguard, “why the king had issued such a harsh order. So Arioch told Daniel what had happened. Daniel went at once and obtained royal permission for more time, so that he could tell the king what the dream meant. Then Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened. He told them to pray to the God of heaven for mercy and to ask him to explain the mystery to them so that they would not be killed along with the other advisers in Babylon. Then that same night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision, and he praised the God of heaven” (Daniel 2:15-19 GNT).

Instead of panicking in what seemed like an impossible situation, Daniel learned all the facts and sought to understand the motivation behind the king’s request. When someone asks you to do the impossible, you need to understand why because you can’t make a wise decision just on your feelings. You need all the facts.

What did Daniel learn? The king was scared to death and making illogical requests. Once Daniel knew why the king was panicking, he knew how to pray and ask for God’s help. And God honored his request and gave him a better way forward.

You need to understand why before moving ahead. Proverbs 23:23 says it this way: “Get the facts at any price” (TLB).

So if you’re asked to do the impossible, don’t panic. First, get all the facts.

Talk It Over

  • How does emotion cloud your judgment when you’re under stress?
  • Why is it so important to understand the motivations of those asking you to do something that seems impossible?
  • How have you seen God work through a seemingly impossible situation?

Where will you spend eternity?

God has already done the most impossible thing. He’s opened the door to heaven so that you can spend eternity with him. How did he make it possible for sinners such as you and me to join a perfect God in his perfect heaven?

“He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NLT). Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins. And then God raised Jesus from the dead. This opened the door to heaven for you.

You can’t earn your way into heaven: “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

The Bible says you can only get to heaven by trusting in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. If you’re ready to commit your life to Jesus, start by praying this prayer:

“Dear God, you have promised that if I believe in your Son, Jesus Christ, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day.

“I confess I have sinned, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died to take away my sins and that you raised him to life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow him as Lord from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at [email protected] and let me know about it. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.


Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.