Is The Lord’s Arm Too Short? - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - April 2, 2026
“The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you” (Numbers 11:23, NIV).
You can usually feel when something matters a little more than usual.
Maybe it’s the first day of school, a college entrance exam, or a special anniversary date. Pressure is in the air, and your chest feels a bit heavier than usual because today is a big day.
As you continue your day, you’re praying, but everything feels like a blur. Until the day is over, the test is finished, or the date has happened successfully, you’re clinging to anxiety and spiraling thoughts. And one overwhelming thought keeps circling:
What if this doesn’t work out?
Tomorrow, my book goes to the publishing board with a Big Five publisher. If you’re unfamiliar with the industry, this is the final step before a contract is offered. And I’ve been here before–6 times to be exact.
It’s exciting, right? A huge deal. Until you realize what this meeting or your meeting actually means, and the pressure continues to build.
Big 5 Publishers in the Christian Industry work with authors who have massive platforms. Huge reach, recognizable names, and billions more followers than I will ever have in my lifetime. But as good as I feel about this project and my writing, I keep thinking:
Why would they pick me? Am I still a nobody?
Over the last week, I’ve prayed about this and prayed about this. And prayed some more. I’ve felt peace, but there’s still a part of me bracing for disappointment. The 27th rejection. The comment that “you’re a great writer, but still not famous enough.”
But right in the middle of that spiral, I felt the Lord gently interrupt my thoughts with a question:
“Has my arm lost its power?”
In Numbers chapter 11, God asks Moses the same question. He’s been on a long journey with the Israelite’s, but tending to their every need is getting heavy. When they start complaining about the manna the Lord has graciously provided and how they want meat instead, God says He will send enough quail from Heaven that they will grow sick of it. While Moses believes the Lord, He questions how this is physically possible.
With over 600,000 soldiers at his side, Moses asks God how in the world this is possible. “Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!’ Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?” (Numbers 11: 21-22, NIV).
Humanly speaking, feeding this many people in the wilderness is impossible. But God says, "Remember who I am." Remember my power, not yours. Remember my Word: “The Lord answered Moses, 'Is the Lord’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you” (Numbers 11:23, NIV).
Depending on which Bible translation you read, “Is the Lord’s arm too short?” can also mean “Has the Lord’s arm lost its power?”
Regardless of what you’re walking through today, I believe the Lord wants you to know that His arm isn’t too short and it hasn’t lost its power. You may be facing incredible battles and seemingly impossible circumstances, but God hasn’t become weaker, nor has His ability decreased. No situation is outside of His reach.
Many of us are quick to say we don’t doubt God. That we’d never be like Moses and question Him. We may not say it out loud, but we live like it’s true when we think:
- This is too unlikely.
- It’ll never happen for me.
- Other people are more qualified.
- This probably won’t work out for me.
Though I don’t know the outcome of the experiences we will continue to face, I know that obedience is our responsibility and that the outcome is the Lord’s. There are people with bigger platforms than me. Surely, better date ideas than we’ve created exist. The college entrance exam may or may not go the way we’ve envisioned. But the truth is this:
God isn’t limited by human or industry standards. He’s not intimidated by platforms or numbers.
He doesn’t need me to be the most obvious choice. He doesn’t need us to plan the perfect date or get a perfect score on our exam. He needs us to do what we can and trust Him with the rest. To work hard, yes, but drop the weight of the outcome in His hands.
Friends, God can do so much more than we ever ask, think, or imagine. He can change minds on the spot if He wants to. He can open doors no résumé could earn. He can do in a moment what we couldn’t manufacture in a lifetime because the question has never been about the size of our opportunities or problems, but the size of our view of God.
Faith isn’t pretending something isn’t hard; it is remembering that God hasn’t changed. And the same God who provided in the wilderness is not limited in a boardroom, exam room, hospital room, or special date.
Today, I’d love for you to think about your “too big” situation. Maybe that’s a job you feel underqualified for, a relationship that feels broken, a door that seems out of reach, or a prayer that seems unlikely. Whatever it is, I guess that somewhere along the way, you may have started believing this situation is the exception to God’s power. I know this because I’ve been here. But God hasn’t lost His power in your situation or mine. Not here.
Odds, people, or outcomes do not limit him, and He’s fully capable of doing more than we can currently see. Today, I’m not asking, “Will this work out?” but “Has His arm lost its power?”
And the answer is still the same: His arm will never lose its power, and no matter what happens, He's still on the throne.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, today, I bring you everything that feels “too unlikely” for you to solve. Instead of seeing the size of my problems, help me to see the size, strength, and power of you. Your arm hasn’t lost its power, and it never will. I love, praise, and thank you, Jesus. Amen.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/kieferpix
Related Resource: Discouragement Often Comes after Calling | Ezra 3
In this episode of The Bible Explained, Jen walks through Ezra chapter 3 and explores the Israelites’ return from exile as they begin rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. She highlights how the people, though fearful and greatly outnumbered, chose unity, obedience, and worship by first rebuilding the altar and restoring sacrifices to God. The episode focuses on the emotional moment when the temple foundation is laid—some rejoice with gratitude while others weep, remembering the former temple’s glory. Through passages in Ezra, Haggai, and Zechariah, Jen emphasizes God’s encouragement not to “despise small beginnings,” reminding listeners that God often works through humble starts, difficult seasons, and imperfect circumstances. The episode closes with a practical encouragement: when God calls people to a purpose, opposition and discouragement will come, but faithful perseverance and trust in God’s presence are what carry the work forward. If this podcast helped you understand the Bible in a clearer way, be sure to follow The Bible Explained on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
