Day 21: God Is Omnipotent, God Is Able
The Doctrine of God: Days 2-28
Scripture
“Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” Genesis 18:14 ESV
“Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.” Jeremiah 32:17 ESV
“Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” Genesis 18:14 ESV
“Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.” Jeremiah 32:17 ESV
Confessional Summary
The Shorter Catechism teaches that God is “infinite” and “almighty” (Westminster Shorter Catechism 4), and Westminster confesses Him as “almighty” (Westminster Confession of Faith 2.1). The French Confession names the one God as “omnipotent” (French Confession, Article 1), and the Scots Confession confesses the same (Scots Confession, Chapter 1).
God’s power is never raw force detached from His character. The almighty God acts with perfect holiness and wisdom, accomplishing all His holy purposes.
The Shorter Catechism teaches that God is “infinite” and “almighty” (Westminster Shorter Catechism 4), and Westminster confesses Him as “almighty” (Westminster Confession of Faith 2.1). The French Confession names the one God as “omnipotent” (French Confession, Article 1), and the Scots Confession confesses the same (Scots Confession, Chapter 1).
God’s power is never raw force detached from His character. The almighty God acts with perfect holiness and wisdom, accomplishing all His holy purposes.
Reflection
Omnipotence is not God as a stronger creature. It is the Creator who does not strain, does not hurry, and does not fail to finish what He intends. Sometimes the hardest part is not believing God can act, but trusting Him when He does not act the way we beg Him to.
Genesis 18 places God’s power inside a promise that feels absurd. Sarah laughs because, as far as she can tell, the story is over. The Lord does not argue her into hope. He asks a question that exposes the real issue. “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” Then He adds what Sarah did not account for: “At the appointed time.” God is not only able. God is deliberate. He keeps His promises on His schedule.
Jeremiah 32 speaks the same truth in a darker setting. Jerusalem is falling, and Jeremiah buys a field as a public act of hope. His prayer begins where sane prayer begins. God made the heavens and the earth. Nothing is too hard for Him. That does not guarantee an easy path. It does mean you are not speaking into silence.
This corrects two errors we drift into. One says God would help if He could. The other says God must give me what I want because He can. Scripture refuses both. God’s “no” is not weakness. God’s “wait” is not confusion. When God answers differently than you hoped, it is not because His arm grew short. It is because His power is guided by wisdom and holiness.
Omnipotence is not God as a stronger creature. It is the Creator who does not strain, does not hurry, and does not fail to finish what He intends. Sometimes the hardest part is not believing God can act, but trusting Him when He does not act the way we beg Him to.
Genesis 18 places God’s power inside a promise that feels absurd. Sarah laughs because, as far as she can tell, the story is over. The Lord does not argue her into hope. He asks a question that exposes the real issue. “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” Then He adds what Sarah did not account for: “At the appointed time.” God is not only able. God is deliberate. He keeps His promises on His schedule.
Jeremiah 32 speaks the same truth in a darker setting. Jerusalem is falling, and Jeremiah buys a field as a public act of hope. His prayer begins where sane prayer begins. God made the heavens and the earth. Nothing is too hard for Him. That does not guarantee an easy path. It does mean you are not speaking into silence.
This corrects two errors we drift into. One says God would help if He could. The other says God must give me what I want because He can. Scripture refuses both. God’s “no” is not weakness. God’s “wait” is not confusion. When God answers differently than you hoped, it is not because His arm grew short. It is because His power is guided by wisdom and holiness.
Application
Name one situation where you have quietly concluded, this will never change. Bring that exact thing to God in prayer today, and tell Him the truth about what you fear. Ask boldly because God is able. Submit without clenched fists because God is wise.
Prayer
Almighty God, forgive my small prayers and my quiet despair. Teach me to ask like You are able, and to trust You when Your answer is not what I expected. Strengthen my faith in Your power and steady me under Your wisdom. Amen.
Name one situation where you have quietly concluded, this will never change. Bring that exact thing to God in prayer today, and tell Him the truth about what you fear. Ask boldly because God is able. Submit without clenched fists because God is wise.
Prayer
Almighty God, forgive my small prayers and my quiet despair. Teach me to ask like You are able, and to trust You when Your answer is not what I expected. Strengthen my faith in Your power and steady me under Your wisdom. Amen.
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2026
January
Day 1: Our Chief End, All of Life for God's GloryDay 2: The Doctrine of God, The God Who IsDay 3: God Is, The Living God Who Truly ExistsDay 4: God Speaks First, Knowing the Living GodDay 5: The Only True God, No RivalsDay 6: God is Spirit, Not Like UsDay 7: God Is Self-Existent, “I AM”Day 8: God Is Not Divided, His Perfections Do Not CompeteDay 9: God Is Holy, Not Safe, Not CommonDay 10: God Is Love, Not Indifferent, Not SentimentalDay 11: God Is Just, The Judge of All the EarthDay 12: God Is Merciful, He Delights to PardonDay 13: God Is Sovereign, None Can Stay His HandDay 14: God Is Wise, Never Confused, Never LateDay 15: God Is Good, He Does GoodDay 16: God Is True, He Cannot LieDay 17: God Is Eternal, Before All, After AllDay 18: God Is Unchanging, Your AnchorDay 19: God Is Omniscient, Fully Known by God, Fully Loved in ChristDay 20: God Is Omnipresent, Never AbsentDay 21: God Is Omnipotent, God Is AbleDay 22: The Trinity, One God in Three PersonsDay 23: The Father, Source, Sender, and AdopterDay 24: The Son Eternal God Redeeming LordDay 25: The Spirit, Lord, and Giver of LifeDay 26: God’s Grace and Decree: Salvation Begins with GodDay 27: Providence: The Fatherly Hand Over All ThingsDay 28: Worship, The Proper End of the Doctrine of GodDay 29: The Doctrine of Scripture, The God Who SpeaksDay 30: Revelation; General and SpecialDay 31: The Authority of Scripture
February
Day 32: Inspiration, God-Breathed and Given by the SpiritDay 33: The Authority of Scripture, The Line You Do Not CrossDay 34: Self-Authenticating Scripture, Recognizing the Word of GodDay 35: The Role of the Holy Spirit, Illumination Not InnovationDay 36: Inerrancy and Truthfulness, Truth Has a NameDay 37: The Sufficiency of Scripture, God’s Word is EnoughDay 38: The Clarity of Scripture, An Open DoorDay 39: The Canon of Scripture, A Settled WordDay 40: The Unity of Scripture, One Story, One SaviorDay 41: Preservation of Scripture, The Word Kept PureDay 42: Translation and Accessibility, The Word Made PlainDay 43: Scripture and Tradition, The Final Court of AppealDay 44: Scripture and the ChurchDay 45: Scripture and Worship, God Sets the TermsDay 46: Scripture and Preaching, God Speaks Through MeansDay 47: Scripture and ObedienceDay 48: Scripture and SanctificationDay 49: Scripture and Comfort, God Speaks PeaceDay 50: Scripture and Assurance, God Speaks CertaintyTaking a Pause