Limitations as Invitations

In our Holy Yoga training the other day, we learned this: “Limitations in our lives equate to freedom”.

We were talking about physical limitations relating to yoga but honestly, that statement just blew me away.  The Truth is that when we accept our limits and need to lean into God’s strength and power, we are transformed.

We all have limitations in our lives. If we listened to the world we would see these limitations as road blocks. We could (and some of us have) allowed these limitations to defeat us.  We throw up our hands and say, “Well, I can’t do that thing (fill in the blank) because I’m too weak, poor, sick, heavy, uneducated, unfit, scared, busy, etc. (fill in the blank).”

Since we all endure different limitations (they can be physical, emotional, spiritual)  and we all have unique dreams, let me just get really general with this statement,   “I can’t fulfill my life’s dream because I am too broken.”

So we give up.

This is where we may go if we see limitations as road blocks.

But here’s the thing.

We are all broken.

Yes.

Not, “Y’all are broken.” But “WE ALL ARE BROKEN.”

Even the people that have fulfilled their dreams. Even the people you think  have it all together. Even the people you see chasing their dreams right now.

Saying you are broken is not admitting defeat, it is declaring VICTORY! It brings FREEDOM.

Freedom from pretending and wearing a false mask and striving and playing God and striving for control.  It means freedom from our sins and our weaknesses and our addictions.  It means that we aren’t supposed to be able to do everything perfectly. When we admit we have limitations and we need God, we can rest and be free from needing to please and protect and be all things to all people. We accept God’s grace. We offer ourselves Grace. We go out into the world and offer Grace to others.

To stand before the Lord and say, “Yah, guess what Lord? I don’t have it altogether. I am not perfect. I can’t figure it out, fix it, mend it, create it, heal it on my own. I need you.  I can’t make good choices all the time. Honestly, Lord, I’m not sure which one is the good choice sometimes. I can’t keep my kids from harm.  I can’t save people. I can’t save myself.  My humanness keeps getting in the way. Broken seems like a harsh word.  It really doesn’t roll off my tongue.  I feel a little squirmy saying it. I say it and then I think, “Wait, I’m not that bad. Broken seems harsh.” I don’t want to say I’m broken because this world has taught me that admitting weakness means I am…well…weak. A fate worse than death here in America Lord. We are bred to brag and achieve and compete and strive and gain and accomplish and never, ever let anyone see us sweat. Lord, I ask you to remove that burden from us. It’s just so tiring Lord. Take it away. Teach us the Truth. You came to turn this world upside down. You came and did a new thing. You said the WEAK will become STRONG. You said BLESSED are the POOR IN SPIRIT.  You, Lord, came and washed feet. You were a servant. You did not demand a King’s robe and crown of jewels. You came as a vulnerable baby and died under a crown of thorns.  Lord, it is really hard for us to let go of what we have learned from this world. We don’t like our limitations. We don’t like it when we feel weak. We are uncomfortable asking for help. We think we long for perfection. We think we long to be rulers of our own little kingdoms but Lord, you know what we really want is peace and joy and love everlasting. We want the freedom that comes from you. So we have limitations. We are human. You are God and we are not. Gosh, what a relief. Can we rest now? Can we just open our hands and except your grace? You’ve got this, right? You’ve got my life and my kids and my marriage and my friendships and my health and my life’s work and my needs…you have this, right? It’s okay if I’m not perfect? Lord, help me today to accept my limitations as an invitation to draw near to you.  Help me to say YES to you so I can taste the Freedom that comes from laying this heavy burden of perfection down. Set me free. Please Lord, set me free.”

Amen.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10(MSG)

Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,

My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

 

©2015 Sue Bidstrup, Great Big Yes™, All Rights Reserved