When circumstances beyond our control prevent us from pursuing our goals, we can be utterly discouraged. When our dreams seem unreachable, our heavenly Father wants to remind us that He is the God of the impossible!

For some singles, the start of 2021 was completely demoralizing. “I feel like I wasted a full year in 2020… How do we meet new people when we are forced into confinement ?! Even less finding love! And now we add a curfew?” Discouragement had reached a peak! And God heard this sadness and He chose to answer: “I am the God of the impossible!” The Bible tells us dozens and dozens of miraculous stories, where only the hand of the Almighty God could intervene. And our God has lost none of His supernatural strength and creativity.

As we read Gideon’s story, we can find seven keys to unlock the impossible and banish discouragement.

1. We must feel that God has compassion for us
   Judges chapter 6 begins by telling us that the distress the children of Israel found themselves in was… somewhat their fault! But God did not abandon them in their distress, He provided a solution. We too must let God point out our past mistakes to us, so we can decide not to make them again and then believe that God has compassion on us.

2. We must remember the power of God
   The first thing the angel said to Gideon was that the “Lord” was with him (Judges 6:12). Not just anyone! It is when we realize “WHO” is with us that we can see ourselves as a “valiant hero”, able to meet any challenge in front of us.

3. We need to clean up our life
   Before delivering Gideon and the people, God asked him to destroy all the idols (Judges 6:25). For God in His almighty power to walk with us, we must let go of our other sources of comfort or security. We must sanctify ourselves and choose to put God first. Knowing that the Lord wants to be with us should give us a holy reverence that prompts us to repent.

4. We must be filled with the Holy Spirit Once the cleaning was done in Gideon’s life, the Holy Spirit came to fill him (Judges 6:34). It was only after he was filled with the Spirit of God that Gideon was able to have favor with the rest of the people. Being filled with the Spirit is necessary to have the favor of those around us and to get the strategies essential to victory.

5. We must always remain dependent on God
   At each step, Gideon asked God for a sign to make sure that He was always with him (Judges 6:36-40). Even though we know where we want to go, it is important to keep God on the throne of our life and always consult with Him as we walk. God does not appreciate doubts about Him, but He is happy to reassure us when we need confirmation that we are still in His favor.

6. We must listen to the strategies God gives us
   To train his army, Gideon used a God-given strategy that was rather unconventional (Judges 7:7). But God loves to use solutions that we would not have thought of! Even though circumstances seem impossible, when we are on a mission for the Lord, have sanctified our lives, and are filled with the Spirit, God will show us a way no one would have thought of!

7. We must have a vision of our victory
   Before launching their attack, God allowed Gideon to hear his enemy’s dream of being defeated (Judges 7:13-15). Armed with this vision of victory, Gideon was able to follow God’s instructions with conviction. When we can see victory already in our thoughts, we walk filled with confidence and even thankfulness. And it is this attitude of victory that our Father wants for His children.

(This is a summary of the conference titled “God of the Impossible” presented in French on January 16, 2021. To listen to it, please visit https://youtu.be/_LAcCZPHYtc)