Shannon Bream’s new book “Nothing Is Impossible with God,” blends personal testimony with fresh readings of biblical figures, using her own health struggle as the thread that ties the stories together. The piece traces her recovery from a persistent corneal condition, then follows her compassionate, detail-driven reflections on Moses and Joseph. The tone is grateful and personal, yet focused on the biblical narrative and the lessons she draws from it.
Bream opens with a frank account of severe, persistent eye pain that shadowed her life and led her toward deep discouragement. After trying several doctors she finally saw a cornea specialist whose diagnosis changed everything, revealing map-dot-fingerprint dystrophy, also known as Cogan’s dystrophy. That diagnosis explained tiny erosive scratches on the cornea that worsen during deep sleep, and the prescribed regimen of ointment, drops and tear duct plugs restored her comfort and hope. Her gratitude for that turnaround is central to why she wrote the book.
Her recovery sets the stage for eleven biblical profiles that follow, each chosen because it resonated with her personally. The portraits avoid sermonizing and stay rooted in character and circumstance, giving readers a readable, reflective tour through familiar stories. Bream’s approach is conversational and humble, the voice of someone who’s been helped and wants to pass that help along. Faith here is presented as both anchor and lens for seeing human resilience.
DR MARC SIEGEL: MEDICAL MIRACLE OR MODERN SCIENCE? BOTH CAN BE SIGNS OF GOD AT WORK appears as a nod to the interplay between medical help and spiritual meaning in her story. Bream credits the timing and the clinician’s insight as part of a broader providence, while still valuing the clinical care she received. That balance—between awe at recovery and respect for medicine—runs through her memoir-like introductions to each biblical figure. The emphasis is on gratitude rather than triumphalism.
She turns next to Moses, opening with the brave actions of his mother who defied a brutal law and hid her son from certain death. Bream highlights how Moses never forgot his roots even after his palace upbringing, noting the pivotal moment when he killed an Egyptian for abusing a Hebrew and then fled. Her reading focuses less on miracles alone and more on steady, faithful service: “Moses was faithful, working for his father-in-law as a shepherd. We see no grumbling about how great life used to be at the palace, no daydreaming about going back to the life of a prince — just the methodical work of a dutiful man.” She frames that shepherding period as the quiet preparation for the dramatic call that follows.
When the burning bush appears, Bream lets Scripture speak plainly: “God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’ And Moses said, ‘Here I am.’ (Exodus 3:1-4)” She admits with a wink that she doubts she would have responded so calmly, a humanizing aside that keeps the tone approachable. That moment becomes the hinge for her reflections on leadership and obedience. Later she quotes the mission God gives Moses: “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:10)
The Exodus passage gets a strategist’s reading, as Bream argues God’s plan deliberately subverted expectations. “But the Lord had a plan that wouldn’t look like any other rebellion in history. It would start with what any strategist would tell you is a terrible mistake — letting your enemy know you’re coming.” This interpretation treats biblical events as narrative moves with surprising purpose rather than random miracles. She invites readers to see patience, timing and apparent folly as part of a larger design.
Joseph’s arc receives the same sympathetic, scene-driven treatment, with Bream zeroing in on the emotional complexity when his brothers arrive in Egypt seeking grain. She highlights how Joseph understood them even while keeping his identity hidden, how he wept and practiced hesed, loving kindness, despite betrayal. The book preserves the original line from Genesis: “Their hearts sank, and they turned to each other, trembling, and said, ‘What is this that God has done to us?’” The passage underscores themes of forgiveness, providence and the puzzling ways consequences work out between people.
Throughout the book Bream keeps returning to the Bible as a grand, character-rich narrative that invites close reading and personal application. Her own experience of healing lends credibility to reflections on suffering and hope, and she avoids grandstanding while honoring the text. The result is an inviting, readable collection of portraits that aims to make ancient stories feel immediate and helpful to readers facing their own trials.
