6 Things To Do When Facing Insurmountable Problems
What to Remember When the Odds Are Against You
This teaching from Pastor Rick Warren is excerpted from the FTT Breakthrough Prayer Guide – get your full copy here.
What is an area of your life where you feel powerless? As we walk in faith—whether in our personal lives or in fulfilling God’s Great Commission—we often encounter goals so lofty that they are impossible to accomplish on our own.
Consider the vision behind Finishing the Task—the 2033 B goals are massive, global objectives! Yet when Jesus told the original twelve disciples to “go to every nation,” it was a physically impossible command. They didn’t even know all the nations that existed! They had no airplanes, trains, or cars. Today, we can travel anywhere in 24 hours, but back then, reaching the entire world was unimaginable.
God often asks us to do the impossible. Why? So that we will depend on Him. Realizing our inability to control the uncontrollable isn’t weakness—it’s the starting point for breakthrough. We can’t get healthy, find healing, or see miracles until we admit our powerlessness and fully rely on God’s power.
Thankfully, the Bible gives us a powerful example of what to do when the battle feels too big, the solution out of reach, and we don’t know where to turn. In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat faced a triple threat—three enemy armies were closing in, and defeat seemed certain. But what follows is one of the most incredible stories of breakthrough in the Bible. From it, we can draw six clear instructions from God for what to do when you’re up against impossible odds:
1. Don’t Worry About the Size of Your Problems
Twice in 2 Chronicles 20:15 and 17, God says, “Do not be afraid.”
Why? Because the size of your problem should never determine the size of your faith. The size of your God should. Fear makes problems look bigger and God look smaller—but faith reverses that. Let God’s power put your problems in perspective.
“The Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.’”
—2 Chronicles 20:15
2. Realize It’s God’s Responsibility, Not Yours
God told Jehoshaphat, “The battle is not yours, but God’s!” (v.15). That same truth applies to your battles today.
You weren’t meant to carry the weight of the world. Many of us feel exhausted because we’re trying to fight battles God never intended us to fight. Trusting Him means recognizing He never asked you to be the general manager of the universe. He’s got this.
Remember: “God is God, and I’m not.”
Let that truth bring peace to your stress.
3. Face the Problem Confidently
God didn’t tell the Israelites to run away or avoid the battle. He told them to go face the enemy. When fear creeps in, we often want to flee, but faith means moving forward with confidence, even when we don’t have all the answers.
“March down to face the enemy.”
—2 Chronicles 20:16
Courage is not the absence of fear—it’s obedience in the presence of it.
4. Relax! Success Doesn’t Depend on You
“You will not have to fight in this battle,” God said (v.17). He’s saying success will not depend on them. That’s both comforting and humbling. Sometimes the hardest part is not acting—just standing still and letting God move.
When you stop striving and start trusting, you allow space for God to show up in powerful ways. He’s never lost a battle. Let him fight yours.
5. Wait and Watch for God’s Deliverance
“Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation the Lord will give you.” (v.17)
Standing still takes more faith than scrambling to fix things. Sometimes we try to manipulate outcomes or force our own solutions—but God says, “Don’t move. Just watch what I will do.
Perhaps you want to write this down and place it somewhere prominent as a reminder: “It’s never God’s will for me to run from a difficult situation!”
If you run, you’ll just face it again later, perhaps in another way or another place. In having you stand still, God wants to teach you that he’s sufficient in everything.
6. Remember God Is With You
Finally, God reminds the people: “Go out to face them tomorrow because the Lord will be with you” (v.17). That promise is still true today.
God’s presence is your greatest weapon in any battle. Trust his character. Trust his promises. And trust that when you step out in faith, he steps in with power.
“Have faith in the Lord your God and you’ll stand strong!”
—2 Chronicles 20:20
Do you want to stand strong in life? The key is in these verses: You stand strong and trust. What do you “stand firm” on? You trust the character of God and you trust the truth of His Word. That means you say, “God is good even when I don’t understand it, and I will obey his Word even when I don’t understand it.”
Whatever you’re facing today, no matter how insurmountable it seems, take a deep breath. You’re not alone. You don’t have to be enough – God is.
Want more resources on breakthrough prayer? Visit https://finishingthetask.com/breakthroughprayer/ to explore how you can pray bold, faith-filled prayers that align with God’s heart and mission.
