Life without Limits

 

 

Gail Casteen, cbn.om

What if we lived life without limits? Not without boundaries, but without LIMITS!

If we are living lives of confinement and limitation, how did it happen? Have there been insurmountable obstacles or burdens too heavy to carry? Or have we misunderstood God? Have we restricted the very lives that Jesus lived, died, and lives again to provide?

My son was born with an open heart and an open abdomen. At 3-years-old, he was too young to understand why he had scars running from his throat to his manmade belly button. Scars were normal for him. In spite of the birth defects and scars, running was his “favorite fun.” He knew his boundaries (he stayed in the yard) but he knew no limits (he ran to his heart’s content). The fact that he had scars did not affect his life.

We all have scars. Physical scars and emotional scars are part of life. We do not have to be limited by our scars, nor do we have to be limited by fear. Hurts and fears can stop us dead in our tracks, if we let them.

Paul says this about hurt places:

“… for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10 (NIV)

I was engrossed in conversation with an elderly military officer one afternoon. He retired years ago, but he is clear-thinking and wise. I was trying to make a decision and was hashing it out with him. Did God want me to take this path or that one? Both options seemed good. (You know how it goes.) After a brief pause, he sighed and said, “Maybe He will make a way for you to do both. When did God ever limit you?”

Armed with his question, I did some soul (and Word) searching. I discovered that God sets boundaries for our safety and well-being. He removes limits in spite of our scars and weaknesses. He gives us the ability to establish and thrive in healthy relationships. He enables us to conquer fear. He moves us to encourage hurting people. He reveals His wisdom. He teaches us to respond to His prompting. He supplies us with courage to pray for others, even when we don’t believe we have enough faith. Endless, isn’t it?

God has given us life beyond measure. Knowing that, wouldn’t it stand to reason that our lives would be enlarged by His gift of life without limits? Wouldn’t those around us be changed as well?

Jesus said it,

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19 (NIV)

My son is a young adult now, and is my constant reminder that we serve a God Who is limitless.

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 (NIV)