The house was peacefully quiet. Timmy was taking a nap—or so I thought—and two of my daughters (the only other kids home at the time) were playing with a friend. I was sitting on the couch in the living room working on a cross stitch project when my daughters and their friend walked into the living room…followed by Timmy.
“Who got Timmy out of his crib?” I asked. No one said anything, so I asked each girl individually. Each denied it. Gradually, I came to the only possible conclusion: Timmy had gotten himself out of the crib.
It was the first of many such escapes that Timmy engineered. Apparently, he was easily able to climb out of his crib whenever he wanted to.
In thinking about it, I realized that Timmy had probably been able to climb out of his crib for awhile now. The only thing keeping him there may not have been his inability to get out, but his mistaken assumption that he was unable to do so.
You and I have mistaken assumptions about our abilities too. We’re able to do so much more than we realize—we just don’t try, so we never find out. We look at the obstacles in front of us and think, I can’t overcome that, so I won’t even try.
In reality, however, with God’s strength, we can do anything He calls us to do. That’s because when He calls us, He also equips us not only with the abilities and talents we already have, but with His strength and wisdom.
Precious mom, is there an area in your life where God’s calling you to step out in faith, but you’re not obeying because you think you can’t? Moses would have identified with you. When God called him to lead the Children of Israel out of Egypt, Moses protested, citing his lack of speaking ability.
What excuse are you using for not doing what God has called you to do? Do you think you don’t have the ability to do what He’s asking? Do you protest that you don’t know how?
It’s true that you may need to develop certain abilities. You may also need to learn how to do what He’s asking. But the fact that you can’t or don’t know how to do it now is no excuse for remaining stuck in the crib. God will honor your efforts to get out and do whatever it is He’s calling you to do. You may be unable by yourself, but with Him, you are more than able.
Don’t let any potential obstacles make you think you can’t be successful at what God wants you to do. God can either remove the obstacles, or He can enable you to get over them, just like He enabled Timmy to get out of his crib. What seems like a huge obstacle to you is nothing more than a pebble to God. If He wants you to get past that obstacle, He will make a way.
But you have to be willing to take that first step.
Philippians 4:13—I can do all things through him who gives me strength. (ESV)
