Limitless
10:49 AMHeatherOne of my all time most favorite movies is Steel Magnolias. I just love the clever dialog and GREAT quotes throughout the movie. The last few weeks, I keep hearing M'Lynn's voice as she responds to Shelby's pregnancy announcement: "Shelby, there are limits to what your body can do." Yep. That's how I've been a-feeling. There have been limits to what my body can do. And it has really driven me crazy. I WISH I could say I've responded really well, with a positive attitude. But, I would be lying.
So, in my Eeyore attitude this last weekend, I was pondering my current predicament. I was praying again for God to please hurry up and teach me what I need to learn so we can all move forward. Feeling limited has been a bitter pill to swallow. Oh, and yes--pills have been bitter to swallow, seeings how I've nearly choked twice from taking vitamins because my throat wouldn't swallow. But, my two self-imposed Heimlich manuvers and my heroic efforts to save my own life is but another story (have you noticed I lean toward the dramatic?). So, I was lamenting to God about how I hate feeling so limited, and then it occurred to me. I have a choice to make. I can focus on how I am limited. Or I can let my limits point me to how LIMITLESS He is.
1. I cannot move well. This has improved over the last few weeks, but I still cannot bend forward. There's much you can't do when you can't bend forward. But...
Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?
5 He moves mountains without their knowing it
and overturns them in his anger.
6 He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble.
7 He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of the stars.
8 He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades
and the constellations of the south.
10 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted.
11 When he passes me, I cannot see him;
when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.
Job 9:4-11
the Maker of heaven and earth.3 He will not let your foot slip—he who watches
over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:2-4
3. I cannot seem to find answers on exactly what caused this or what the "cure" might be--other than waiting it out. But:
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
Romans 11:33
4. Even the simplest of things feels nearly impossible. I am frustrated that I cannot do the dishes. OH--wait. Never mind that one--I am not frustrated particularly by having to hand that one off...but I don't like having to ask my kids to sit up in bed because I cannot lean forward to kiss them good-night. Plainly spoken--I am a WIMP about all this. I don't like accepting some things are not possible for me right now. But:
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
I feel challenged by the choice--dwell on my limitations and feel bitter about my current frustrations. Or, CHOOSE to allow them to point me to my Refuge, my Provider, my Savior, my Deliverer, my Healer--who is limitless.
INTENTIONAL challenge: This whole neck thing feels ridiculous. I am embarrassed by how poorly I am responding to it all. I recognize that everyday, brave and much more faith-filled people face life and death challenges. The truth is that this control-freak, type A, leaning toward obsessive person does not like limits. And, the bigger truth is that I choose to follow a God who is limitless. I am bowing to the lesson to lean on His limitless ability to carry me through. And, I am humbled to know that I serve a God who empathizes with me on this--"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin," Hebrews 4:15. Even more amazing than the fact that God is limitless is the fact that his Son agreed to be confined to a human body, and in this--He can understand my frustration. Whew. So, this notorious pessimist has a choice to make. Will I see my limits? Or will I fix my eyes on His limitless ability to carry me through? Which will you choose?
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