What do you do when you’re facing the impossible? When your back is up against a wall? When you’re stuck… frozen… because surely this can’t be the end? Surely there must be more to the story?

I’ve managed to trade some unhealthy coping skills for some more constructive ones, but at the end of the day, we have to move past coping. We can’t avoid the inevitable forever. We have to face our fears, our doubt, and the lack of answers.

I’ve prayed. I’ve cried. I’ve worshipped. I’ve read Scripture. I’ve listened to music. I’ve waited. I’ve cried again.

I believe in a God who makes a way when there is no way.

It can be so incredibly disheartening when we’re standing on the edge of an issue, fighting the good fight of faith, trusting a way forward will appear.

What do we do when it doesn’t?

The other night, I was drowning in the impossible. My vision was clouded, and I could not see a way forward.

I finally gave up, knowing that sleep was the best thing for me. Dwelling on the issue at hand, strategizing alone, wasn’t producing a viable solution. I retreated to my bed, and did my best to fall sleep.

Morning arrived. Six hours was not enough, and I hit snooze one too many times.

I opened my Bible app, in my feeble attempt to waken the dawn with God’s Word and get grounded before I officially began my day.

We’re doing a family reading plan this year – New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. I pulled up the day’s reading, and paused.

This time, in awe.

Psalm 3 and Psalm 4 ❤️

“Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, ‘God will not deliver him.’ But You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and He answers me from His holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side. Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.” – Psalm ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭8‬

“Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer. How long will you people turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Know that the Lord has set apart His faithful servant for Himself; the Lord hears when I call to Him. Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord. Many, Lord, are asking, ‘Who will bring us prosperity?’ Let the light of Your face shine on us. Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” – Psalm ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭8‬

Relief. As I read, my spirit was strengthened. My soul was restored. I didn’t know how God was going to make a way, but my eyes were hopeful.

God sees me. He hears me. He knows.

Sparing some of the details, God showed up a few hours later. Not in the way I expected or maybe even wanted, but absolutely in the way I needed in that moment.

And guess what? The problem is still present, but so is God. The circumstance shifted but hasn’t resolved—and I have now courage to keep going.

It seems like a fitting time to share two of my favorite passages:

“This is what the Lord says—He who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters… ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.’” – Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” – Hebrews 12:1-3

God is making a way for us in the wilderness. He’s marking out the race He’s called us to run. And He’s encouraging us to look with eyes of faith – to see! – to focus on Him. To fix your eyes on the One who makes a way where there is no way.

“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.” – 2 Chronicles 20:12

Even if we brought the trouble on ourselves, even if it’s our fault, we can still turn to a gracious God and look for His path. Remember His heart and character, His faithfulness and provision. Trust that He’s making ways.