God is Limitless!
I have recently been going through a Bible Study called The Attributes of God by The Daily Grace Co. (if you haven’t checked out their Bible studies, head over there now https://thedailygraceco.com/ – not an affiliate link.) I’m bad with daily Bible studies because I’ll do good for about a week and then once the weekend hits, my routine gets thrown off and the next thing I know, I haven’t picked up the study in a month! It’s not for the lack of interest or the readability of the study, it is simply my own shortcoming.
Starting Again
So, today I picked up the study again and todays study was about God being infinite. Outside of time, outside of earthly limitations, and able to be everywhere all at once. A concept that we have no way of possibly understanding other than the desire to do the same. We wish and want to do all and be all for everyone around us, and beat ourselves up when we fail. Or maybe that’s just me.
My Limitations
As a working mom I feel pulled in every possible direction, wanted for this, needed for that. And I often find myself struggling to keep up with it all. I’ll say yes when I’m having a good day when things are getting done, and then regret it when I’m tired, I’ve done all of the things, and I don’t have any more to give. I’m limited. Maybe it’s depression. Maybe I’m just not as strong as I once was. But nevertheless, I want to do it all in my own strength. Which isn’t how God designed us to be.
“We were not made to be limitless; we were made to worship a limitless God.”
The Attributes of God – The Daily Grace Co.
Not Alone
In the Bible study The Attributes of God, they talk about how we are not made to be limitless. That isn’t how God created us. He created us to need Him. We are designed to have limitations and to need a Sabbath, a day of rest, where we look back to Him and seek His strength for the coming week. But we don’t live in a world that allows for that. We aren’t allowed to rest. Not fully. We are kept constantly busy by the chaos of daily activities. Not to mention chores that must be done, food that must be cooked, and forget ever having a social life!
What I have to learn to remember is this; I cannot do it within my own strength. I can’t. It isn’t that I’m not trying, or a lack of will. I am physically incapable of doing everything on my own! It is just a simple fact.
I’m Not Enough
Yep, you read that right. I’m not enough. I know, that goes completely against what pop-culture says. It’s trendy to say “I am enough”, or “I got this!” But that is just not true. I am not enough and I don’t “got this.” And THAT IS OK!! Because I know a God who does! And let me tell you, when I start living like that, things get a whole lot easier. No, it isn’t perfect. We live in an imperfect world. But when I try to live it like I got this, I find myself struggling 10x more than when I rely on God. I am not made to do this on my own!
So here’s my plan for the week. Just a week, because I know my track record with long-term goals. This week I am going to live like I don’t got this. I’m going to start each day reading my Bible (to find where my strength comes from) and praying (to talk to the guy who gives me my strength), and I’m going to go from there. My schedule isn’t going to change, I’m still going to be busy and pulled in every direction. But, we will see next week how my attitude changes. Who knows? Maybe I’ll find myself able to keep going for another week or two.
God Is Enough
What I don’t want to do is try this for a week and then only look at where I failed or didn’t “do enough.” What I have to remember through this journey, is that God is enough, even when I’m not. When I am relying on His strength, my weaknesses are still weaknesses. My limitations are still limitations. It isn’t that He removes all of the obstacles. He just gives me the strength to push through them and keep going. To wake up tomorrow and do it all again. Because I know my reason why. I don’t live this life for myself. I live for Him. To do His will and serve Him wherever I go. Not as a slave, but as a loving daughter who desires to please her Heavenly Father. He has given me a purpose beyond being a wife, a mom, and a teacher.
God has made a way for me to leave a mark on this world. Maybe not in some astronomical way. I don’t ever expect to be famous or have my name in the history books. But as I encounter people in life, as a teacher, a friend, and a mom, maybe I will be remembered for my faith in God and how I learned to rely on His strength instead of my own. To recognize that I am not limitless, but God is!
Peace and Blessings,
Min. Max. Mom.
Great article to offer a pick-me-up. I felt the anxiety of hearing you say “I am not enough and I don’t ‘got this’.” But the relief and peace when you said “But I know a God who does” is just unreal. It hits back to what Jesus said about taking on each day one at a time and not worrying for the future. The only way we can do that is to remember that God has our future. He sustains us, and that makes you realize how much you truly are not in control. Every moment is a gift from God and he is trustworthy of us. I was listening to a podcast by the Bible Project recently and they talked about the entire message of the Bible at this point, they were in Exodus, was God trying to point out to mankind that we needed to rely on Him because we were relying on Him. They were talking about the manna coming from heaven and everyday they would go collect it to last them. Each day they collected what was available and each day it was just enough to last that day. This harkens to Jesus praying the Lord’s prayer about giving us our daily bread. Anyway, on the Sabbath they had to trust God to not collect any additional bread that day and trust Him that they would have enough. Great article. Thank you for the meditation of God’s word to all of us. Keep it up.