I Cant Do Everything AMY CARROLL But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christs power may rest on me ... For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9,10b (NIV) I dont want to go bowling, I said hearing a cringe-inducing whine creep into my voice. While my entire extended family enthusiastically prepared for a fun outing, I was dragging my feet. In reality, I dont dislike bowling terribly. I just really, really, REALLY dont like doing things Im not good at. And Im terrible at bowling. Avoidance or quitting is my natural default. Our self-esteem driven culture says, You can do anything you want! But the truth is I cant do everything. My dream as a little girl was to be a platinum award-winning pop star. I sang into my hairbrush and made sure I stood on the stage for every talent show my school held. But no matter how much I practiced, my heart-felt but average singing was met with tepid applause and sympathetic pats on the back from my friends. Yes, if Id been born just a little later, I would be one of the pitiful audition examples on American Idol — a contestant whos convinced shes great while the rest of the world watches with wide eyes and gasps. My family, the worlds greatest encouragers, would be at home cheering wildly while the rest of the world muttered, Bless her heart! No matter how many lessons I take or how much I practice, Im never going to progress from the choir loft to the stadium stage. Its just not going to happen. Singing isnt a gift God has given me, and I dont feel His leading to take a leap of faith. If I were to audition, it would be foolish, because it would be a risk taken from my own desires and based on an unrealistic assessment of my gifts. Simply put, theres a clear difference between a foolish risk and an inspired risk. I think its great for us to understand our limits. But I have another issue thats not so great. Its my propensity to give up too quickly when things get hard ... when Im challenged to do something Im not already good at. Recently Ive been challenged to complete the most difficult process of my professional life. Ive worked and struggled and fallen more times than Id like to count. Day after day Ive wanted to quit. And Ive become painfully aware that this assignment is too big for me. But this assignment is an inspired risk. Its based on the beginnings of a gift God has placed in me and on His clear calling. So Ive spent time on my knees asking God for direction and just a little more fortitude. He has faithfully encouraged me. God continues to point out He not only opened the door of opportunity, He surrounded me with others to help me develop this embryo of a gift. Instead of doing what our culture does, passing out false praise and you can do anythings, God has instructed me to rejoice that Im really not good enough ... To do it without Him. To accomplish it without the help of others. To finish without perseverance (which produces character, and character hope, Romans 5:3-5). Sometimes, when were given a task beyond ourselves, we just need to rejoice. Its a good thing were really not good enough. Its in those times of struggle, failure and ultimately growth that we find out God is enough. Lord, teach me to rejoice in the difficult assignments, because its there I come to the end of my own abilities and learn to lean on Yours. In Jesus Name, Amen. TRUTH FOR TODAY: Philippians 4:13, I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (NIV) 1 Corinthians 1:25, For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (NIV) REFLECT AND RESPOND: What is an inspired risk you believe God wants you to make? Write a prayer asking God to help you obey when He calls you to something that seems beyond your ability.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 19:55:57 +0000