“On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: ‘Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.'” – Joshua 10:12
The Audacity of Faith
Joshua and his men had been marching all night and fighting all day. They were on the brink of a total victory, but the light was fading. In a few hours, the sun would set, the darkness would provide cover for the enemy to escape, and the opportunity for a decisive breakthrough would be lost.
Joshua didn’t just pray for more energy or better eyesight in the dark. He prayed for something that defied the very laws of physics. He stood in front of everyone and commanded the sun to stop. He didn’t ask for “ashes” to be managed; he asked for a miracle of “beauty” that would change the course of history.
Breaking the Laws of “Impossible”
We often limit our prayers to what we think is “reasonable.” we ask God for things that we could almost do ourselves with a little extra help. But Joshua’s prayer teaches us that the Creator of the universe is not restricted by the clock, the calendar, or the “way things usually go.”
- God Owns the Clock: If you feel like you’ve wasted years of your life or that you’ve “missed your window” of opportunity, remember the God of Joshua. He can stretch time. He can compress a decade’s worth of growth into a single year. He can sustain your strength far beyond your natural expiration date.
- The “In the Presence” Prayer: Joshua prayed this prayer in the presence of Israel. He was willing to look foolish for the sake of being faithful. Sometimes, “choosing beauty” means being bold enough to declare your trust in God even when the situation looks like it’s about to go dark.
- The Sun and the Son: Just as God stopped the sun for Joshua, He stopped the darkness for us through His Son. On the cross, it seemed like darkness won, but God intervened to bring a light that never fades. If He can hold the sun in the sky, He can certainly hold your life together.
A Simple Truth
Your “impossible” is God’s playground. Whether you need more time to finish a task, more resources to keep a dream alive, or more strength to finish a battle, don’t be afraid to ask for a “Sun Stand Still” miracle. God isn’t looking for polite, tiny requests; He is looking for a heart that believes He is as big as He says He is.
Praying Boldly
- Identify Your “Sunset”: What area of your life feels like it’s running out of time? Is it a relationship, a career goal, or a season of parenting? Name it clearly before God today.
- The Bold Ask: Instead of asking for “just enough to get by,” ask God to intervene in a way that only He can. Pray: “Lord, I can’t do this in my own strength or in the time I have left. I ask You to stop the sun over my situation.”
- Watch with Expectation: Once Joshua prayed, he kept fighting. He didn’t sit down and wait for the sun to stop; he moved forward in the confidence that God was listening. Work like it depends on you, but pray like it depends on Him.
Prayer
Lord of all creation, I bring my ‘impossible’ situation to You. I confess that I have been measuring my future by my own limited clock and resources. Today, I ask for a ‘Sun Stand Still’ miracle. Stretch my time, my strength, and my capacity to accomplish Your will. I believe that You are not bound by what the world calls ‘natural.’ Be my light when the shadows grow long. Amen.
