Overcoming Our Limitations
In my newsletter today I would like to focus on the word limitations. Do you find yourself having limitations based on your past or present experiences? Maybe, there are areas that have caused you pain or led you to feel less qualified and has limited you to do something. Do you find yourself making excuses to overcome these limitations because you are stuck in a rut and therefore you can’t see what the future could be if you strived to overcome these restrictions. So what exactly do limitations mean? Google states: “a limiting condition; restrictive weakness; lack of capacity; inability or handicap. Does this describe you? If so, remember - when limited circumstances have caused you hardship and affects you in a negative way, it is very easy to remain stagnate and shut down the idea to persevere. Therefore, to avoid doing this, there must immediately be a change in your mindset so the conditions can be seen as a way to grow and overcome these obstacles. So how do you move past these limitations? First, realize that you need Jesus. He is much bigger than your circumstance. Next, pray and ask Him to guide and direct you. Likewise, ask for wisdom and discernment so you are able to implement a plan going forward while setting up strategies to accomplish actions that will help you get past the limitations. ShortForm states it best: “In order to overcome your limitations, you must unchain your mind”. The resource goes on to list the 3 various steps to help overcome these obstacles. These suggestions include: to turn challenges into opportunities, to practice reflecting only the facts, and to forgive and forget. Though this is often hard to endure in the end, when you have won the victory, you can see that He was refining you through the process and allowed you to grow to be the best you for the best Him! After all, it is not through your power but His power that you can succeed. “So do not be moved when the earth gives way, for the risen one has overcome.”
Three different times I begged God to make me well again. Each time he said, “No. But I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people.” Now I am glad to boast about how weak I am; I am glad to be a living demonstration of Christ’s power, instead of showing off my own power and abilities. Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite happy about “the thorn,” and about insults and hardships, persecutions and difficulties; for when I am weak, then I am strong—the less I have, the more I depend on him.
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 TLB
Chaplain Tracey Burns
Reflection Questions:
Are you able to identify your limitations that hinder you to grow?
Do you remain stagnate and allow them to defeat you or strive to overcome them?
How can you share your limitation story with others so you can help them conquer these giants too?
Bonus: Great song (if you are interested) - do you need “Overcome” your limitations
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvF9Hc5XZOo&ab_channel=ElevationWorship