A series failures taunted me as I walked from the courthouse to my car. I’d been dismissed from jury duty. Not even a calculating attorney with a frivolous lawsuit had any use for me.
I even failed to get selected for jury duty! I scolded myself.
Even though jury duty wasn’t exactly voluntary, to me it was more evidence that whenever I tried something new, I failed.
In my estimation, I was surrounded by evidence of continual failure. A marriage that didn’t match the fairy tales, children who didn’t adore me—except when I wanted to drop them off at the church nursery. Work that seemed to mount up as soon as the stomach flu ripped through the house. I felt I was failing as a wife, mom, foster mom, and employee, and I couldn’t get anything right.
When the Lord first gave me the idea about writing a book, I worried about failing at that too. I didn’t want to try and fail…again. I called my dear friend hoping she would either talk me out of it or pump me with confidence.
“I just don’t think I can take another failure.” I cried over the phone. I recounted my perceived failures and confessed that I thought my faith was a disappointment to God. “I can’t seem to do anything well. I’m too needy, too dependent, too limited.”
That’s where she stopped me with this jaw dropping truth “God is not limited by your limitations.”
[bctt tweet=”God is not limited by your limitations. #RemarkableFaith” username=”shaunaletellier”]
Since then, I’ve seen that truth demonstrated in the gospels, in my own life, and in the lives of others.
The gospels are filled with stories of men and women with real and perceived failures.
A woman bowed at the feet of Jesus, undignified and bawling her eyes out. She was so choked up she failed to explain what she was doing there.
Another woman, limited by a dozen years of incurable anemia, trailed Jesus in a crowd hoping to grab his cloak and get well.
But God is not limited by our limitations whether it be an inability to communicate or an incurable condition.
Remarkable faith is present when we trust Christ to work on our behalf…in spite of our limitations.
Are your limitations an obstacle for God? Hardly.
Do you feel your circumstances limit your Savior? Are you home-bound? Stuck in a draining job or ministry? Nearly insane from caring for difficult people…maybe even your own children?
Your dependence on Christ, whatever your limitation, is evidence of your faith. No matter what a human jury says! God is the final judge and he has selected you, not for jury duty but for adoption into his family! He knows your limitations. And rather than thwarting his plan, your limitations, perceived or real failures and every other weakness, are opportunities for the glories of Jesus to shine. God is not limited by your limitations because His power is made perfect in your weakness.
My first book, Remarkable Faith: When Jesus Marveled at the Faith of Unremarkable People
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“Your dependence on Christ, whatever your limitation, is evidence of your faith.” That line really struck me this morning. I wish I were not so dependent on Christ. I can’t get it through my head that Christ WANTS to help me, that all I need do is ask.
I feel that my faith is not as strong as it need be. Just like the father of the boy with the unclean spirit, I frequently pray, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
Will you pray for me?
Thank you!
I will pray for you, Will! In the first chapter of my book, I write about the father of the boy with the unclean spirit, and in the conclusion I’ve written about how Christ is honored by our dependence! How merciful of Jesus to allow us to honor him in our dependence, don’t you think! Don’t despise your constant dependence…it is the GOAL! I love to quote Alistair Begg, who says, “If dependence on Christ is the objective, then weakness is an advantage!”
The thing that trips us up is when we think Jesus ought to help us in one certain way by the method we prefer. But he has his Father’s glory and our good as his first aim. Often his methods are less preferable, but most effective. Thank you for visiting with me!
I relate so much to this post – “I even failed to get selected for jury duty!” Isn’t it crazy how our minds work and how the enemy can work through anything? Thanks so much for this!
You are so welcome, Jennie! Glad you can relate. Crazy minds think alike…oh wait, that’s no how that goes, is it. 😉
This is so good Shauna!! I often feel too limited, too needy to do anything great for God.
Love the unlimited abilities of God. Even when we only see the limits of ourselves.
It’s He merciful! Even in our need (maybe especially in our need) He is honored! 🙂 Thanks for your thoughts!
“God is not limited by my limitations.” You got me right in the gut sister! I am going to give them to Him now. I know He can do immeasurably more than I. Keep sharing truth and remarkable faith!
It’s such a relief, isn’t it. Really takes the self-imposed pressure off 🙂 Thanks for reading!