Believing for the Impossible

On this day in 1870, ground was broken for the Brooklyn Bridge. The project introduced unprecedented problems. No one had ever attempted to build something this huge: a suspension bridge spanning the East River from Brooklyn to Manhattan Island in New York City. This required extensive planning, innovative thinking, and a belief that the “impossible” could be accomplished.

The builders were forced to be inventive. It was the first bridge to use steel for cable wire and explosives inside a pneumatic caisson during construction.

John Augustus Roebling, born in Mühlhausen, Germany, had been given responsibility for this project. After his tragic death, his son, Washington, became chief engineer, even continuing to direct operations after suffering a crippling attack of decompression sickness and being confined to his apartment.

One by one, major problems threatened to sidetrack the project: A compressed-air blast wrecked a pneumatic caisson. There was a severe fire. A cable crashed into the river. There was fraud by a major contractor, forcing the use of additional tons of cable.

But every obstacle was overcome, and on May 24, 1883, the bridge was opened—the longest bridge of its kind. The “impossible” had been accomplished.

Many people look at their life like the challenge of building the Brooklyn Bridge. Their problems seem impossible to overcome.

Mary could have had this attitude when told that she would bear a son, even though she was a virgin. But the angel reminded her that nothing was impossible with God.

Do you face challenges that seem impossible to overcome? Battles that seem overwhelming? Remember: You serve the God for whom nothing is impossible!