It can be super frustrating when we get tired, overwhelmed, stress and feel like we don’t have capacity to do all that we want to do or need to do. It’s also hard when we want to do something but just can’t physically, emotionally or academically. As humans we have limits. That is part of the definition of being human and not being God.

God has no limits, he knows no bounds. The bible tells us:

“Remember how great is God’s power; he is the greatest teacher of all. No one can tell God what to do or accuse him of doing evil. He has always been praised for what he does; you also must praise him.

Job 36: 22-24

So how are our limits good for us?

1 They keep us safe from harm.

When you love a child, you give them as much freedom as you can to make their own decisions, within safe boundaries. Making sure gardens are safely laid out, using stair gates, holding their hand when they cross the road. Not allowing them out by themselves until an appropriate point, restricting the amount of sugar and processed foods they have, encouraging them to keep a clean room, and so on.

This is the same with God. There are boundaries to our capacity for a reason – to protect us. You feel yourself getting tired – you need more rest. You are overwhelmed? You need to let some things go. You can’t carry anything else? You need to say no. You’re in pain? You need to find the source of the pain and mend it, of course getting help if needs be.

Limits keep us safe, keep us operating within the realms that God designed for us.

2 They push us towards God

Can you remember a time when you felt that you had run out of yourself? That you had to rely on God? I had one this weekend on our retreat when I had to speak last minute and do you know what? God showed up!

Have you ever experienced being closer to God when you are going through tough times? When you think you can’t carry on, when you don’t know what to do, when you are weary and confused God carries you. You might remember the ‘Footprints’ poem.

One night I dreamed a dream.
As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,
especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
“Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You’d walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.”

He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you.”

by Margaret Fishback Powers

Our limits give us the chance to push deeper into God, to stop our own efforts and listen to him and rely on him.

3 They help us to understand God better

For every limit that we have, God is limitless:

• We have a lack of time, he has all of the time in the world.
• We have a lack of compassion, he has all of the compassion in the world
• We are overwhelmed, he is never overwhelmed
• We are weak he is always strong
• We get angry, he is slow to anger
• We speak negative into situations, he only brings life.
• We just can’t do some things, he can do everything
• We can’t find a solution, he always has a solution
• We get ill and frail, he is everlasting and eternal
• We let people down, he never let’s us down.

So use your humanness to:

• Hear from God about what’s best for you and when to stop, when to listen, when to say no
• Push towards God so that when you can’t, he can
• Understand the wonderfulness of God by remembering he is opposite to us!

Our reflection, coffee and conversations are a chance to hear from one of the Fitfish team and spend some time with God. Our next online event is on Saturday 18th November 10-11am. It’s free to attend, and you can find out more and register for your place here.