Literally, there was nothing more I could do. We had no options left. 

We had already been praying for a miracle that my mother-in-law’s passport would arrive in time. The consulate was backlogged for months. There was no end date in time. After a few calls and visits from my wife Valerie, the door had opened – my mother-in-law received her passport three days before our trip. We are ready to go. Hallelujah! 

But there was a problem… A HUGE problem. 

Due to a law change, her last name is now printed with her maiden name. 

OH NO! We bought her tickets under her married name. We frantically called the airlines, but they kept giving us the runaround. How difficult is it to have a name change? Apparently, it is near impossible, with hours of phone calls leading nowhere. (And a bill of $108 calling an airline in Turkey 🤦🏼.) 

At this point, we cannot buy another ticket since it has skyrocketed to over $2,000. We have 24 hours left, so we head to LAX to talk directly with the airline to see if there is anything else for us to do. A friendly employee listens to our situation and seems to understand our plight; she mentions this has happened with her Grandparents before. Yet once the management gets involved, they say there is nothing they can do. That’s it. Finito. 

Defeated and fatigued, we resigned to packing our belongings for the morning flight. We head out as a family, although it is only Valerie and I flying out (my brother-in-law would be leaving on a later date). Now we are at the counter, weighing our check-in bags as we get ready to go. 

THAT’S WHEN GOD SHOWED UP. 

The friendly employee we met the day before sees us and asks if we have resolved our situation. We explained how we got nowhere, and there was nothing we could do. She pauses, then exclaims, “Let me see if there’s something I can do. But I can’t promise anything.” She leaves to the back. While we wait, I look at Valerie and say, “It’s time to pray! We need to intercede for this situation.” Nervously, we pace back and forth while quietly praying under our breath. 

The friendly employee comes back and says, “I’m on the phone with the ticket sales, and it’s still not guaranteed, but we might be able to do something.” Hope is swelling on the inside of us now! Before she goes back, Valerie replies, “Thank you so much for all your help! By the way, what is your name?” The friendly employee’s response was shocking, “My name is Jasmine.” 

Jasmine?! NO WAY. 

Her name is the same as Valerie’s sister, the person we will see on our trip. Instantly, I begin wondering, “Lord, is this a confirmation that this will happen?” 

Shortly afterward, Jasmine, the employee, comes back and declares, “Great news. We can do the name change for a fee. Does your mother have her passport with her?”

Thankfully she did because time was running out! She just happened to bring her passport, although she wasn’t planning on going on the trip anymore. (Thankfully, my mother-in-law already packed her bags so we could process this while they went back to get them). We worked through her information, finished checking in our bags, and walked through the gates, amazed and dumbfounded by what had just happened. 

What we couldn’t do, God did. What is impossible for man is easy for God. As Jesus mentioned, all things are possible with God! (Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27). He makes a way when there is no way and opens up doors that are shut. 

I look back in astonishment and think: 

• “What if Jasmine wasn’t working the day before and helped us?” 
• “What if she didn’t work the day of our flight and had compassion for us?” 
• “What if the salesperson didn’t comply with the name change?” 
• “What if the management shut the process down?” 
• “What if my mother-in-law didn’t bring her passport to the airport?” 

BUT GOD… 

What may seem like the last minute is just in time for God to show what He is made of. He is a God of miracles – moving through impossible circumstances, so He alone gets the glory. He is Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides – because He is a good Father who gives good gifts to us (Matthew 7:11; James 1:17). He is a God of compassion – caring for us as His precious children in need (Psalm 103:13; Psalm 145:8-9). The Lord delights in helping us! 

I share this testimony with you because you might need a miracle today. It’s difficult when you are facing the same circumstances that have not changed. It’s natural to feel hopeless when you have been waiting and still have not seen what you are praying for come to pass. When pressed with impossibility, frustration, doubt, and discouragement can quickly overtake you and become the norm. 

That is why I encourage you to trust in Jesus and in His Words that, “Nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). Surrender the desire to make it happen in your own strength and cling to Christ. He can make it happen in an easier, more effective, and even more creative way than you can attempt on your own. Cry out to the Lord, and let Him know your pain and the impossibility you face. God wants to bless you and help you, but have you expressed what is in your heart to Him first? 

I am writing this overseas as a testimony of God’s faithfulness and goodness. All things, I repeat, ALL THINGS are possible for God! If you need a miracle, I’ll be praying for you that you will receive what you are hoping for. May the Lord answer you and give you a faith-filled testimony so others can be encouraged in living the Spirit-filled life. 

God bless you, in Jesus’ Name! 

Pastor Nathan