Promises and Possibilities By Chrystal Gilkey What do you do with the doubters in your life? With those people who think you don’t stand a chance? As a child and even as an adult, I had a few people in my life like that. My parents were divorced— back when that was uncommon. My family held no great social status. My biological father was an alcoholic. Occasionally, I overheard adults and even family members say, “It’s too late for her.” “She’s seen too much.” “She’s trailer trash.” “She’s not my real sister.” Every time I felt those words being hurled down at me, I stubbornly took hold of Luke 1:37 and refused to let go. This small verse had a huge impact on my life and it was short enough for me to remember as a child. If they thought success in my life proved impossible, I would show them they were wrong. With God, I would make it. I would go to college. I would provide a stable home. I would stay true to the Lord. God said I could. Where others saw improbability, God saw possibility. For with God, nothing shall be impossible.
With all the problems of life I’ve faced, God has supplied me with so many more promises. I love being able to go to His Word and claim His beautiful promises in the face of my doubters. If you have a problem, God has a promise. My family had been broken and put together so many times, but in God’s family, I didn’t have to worry if I was a half-sister or a step-daughter. 1 John 3:1 (KJV) promises, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God….” Galatians 3:26 (KJV) says, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” I didn’t have to distress over disappointments caused by my absentee father. I had a Heavenly Father that never let me down. The Lord also provided a wonderful step-dad and other father figures in my life. Matthew 6:26 (KJV) assures us, “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” I no longer lower my head in shame because of my social status. I can loudly proclaim with confidence, “I’m a child of the King!” Proverbs 14:26 (KJV) declares, “In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: And his children shall have a place of refuge.”
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