When we feel this….“I can’t do this.”
The truth our hearts NEED to hear is this:
“I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13
Where in your life are you hearing this lie that you “can’t do this”? We all hear this lie time and time again. It seems to pop in our heads in those moments when we are just on the edge of doing something in our lives that requires a leap of faith. This lie’s timing hits us at the worst times. It’s a subtle, deceiving, and sneaky lie.
I have had to battle this lie in my dancing career, in motherhood, and now in my writing career. This lie doesn’t seem to care what vocation you are in. It can apply itself to anything and anyone!
In my dancing career, there were so many moments that I felt the lie. I felt like I could not physically dance at the level my heart desired to. I felt like I couldn’t withstand the pain that often accompanied long days in the studio. (sore muscles in particular!) I felt like I would never attain the right body type to be a good enough dancer.
In motherhood, oh there have been and continue to be moments where I just battle the lie: “I can’t do this”…especially in the days where I had newborns that did not sleep through the night. Those were some of my hardest moments as a mom…simply because I was plain exhausted. Even though my boys are older now, when a whiny attitude comes from one of them, a squabble breaks out, or they don’t all like what I just made them for dinner…I feel the lie bubble up.
In my writing career, the lie is just trying to make itself known. It is the greatest test of confidence for me. Whew! I am particularly thankful for my husband, whom I know God uses to speak truth into my heart. He says it like it is…he reminds me to be confident, to be strong, and to be full of courage…no matter what anyone thinks. Putting words out there in cyberspace is a bit like wearing my heart on my sleeve. It’s not the most comfortable thing in the world to do! But what keeps me going is God Himself…just this sense that this is what He wants me to do right now. And sometimes, I even write books in faith, not knowing whether they will ever get published…and sometimes I think, “I can’t do this.” Hello lie again.
But God gives us a remedy for this lie…a replacement, a nugget of truth that lifts us up in those “I can’t do this” moments…
“I can do ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME.”
Here’s the thing I notice about this simple, short verse…ALL THINGS. Anythings. Everythings. All those things. All my things. All your things. We can do ALL THINGS through our Savior, Jesus, who gives us strength!
What are your things? It could be big things or it could be the tiniest things. Oh how this makes my heart swell up with gratitude to Jesus…that He helps us and strengthens us in ALL THINGS! List out your things today. Then whenever you feel yourself believing the lie that you can’t do these things, remember God’s truth…that with Him, YOU CAN!
What are the things in your life that you need to remember that you CAN DO THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS YOU?
Prayer: “Thank You, Lord, for the truth of Your Word. Thank You that because of You, I can do all things through You who strengthen me. Lord, show me where I have been believing lies in my life. Point them out to me, and then remind me that because of You, I can do all things. Thank You for YOU!”
Leave a Reply