“I Can’t” Has New Meaning

climbing“I can’t do this.  This is as far as I can go,” were the words out of my son’s mouth. He couldn’t reach with his hands or find a new spot for his foot to inch his way higher. He was ready to come back down when his guide started offering some suggestions, “Shift your hips to the left. Do you see anything different? Use the palm of your hand. Turn your foot. You only need a couple of inches to make the grab. How can you do that?” Slowly, he found his way up a couple of inches to make the next ledge. There were multiple points throughout the day of climbing where he would get stuck and say, “I can’t.” In fact, all the climbers had those moments at some point.

There have been many points in my life where I have said, “I can’t.” I think  we all have said it. At the end of the day we decided “I can’t” has new meaning. We decided “I  can’t” really  means “I can.” It was inspiring to watch these kids face challenges, want to give up, but hold on and keep trying.  They were examples of the power of this scripture.

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13 NIV).
I couldn’t help but reflect on how easy it is to quit when things get difficult. It is easy to say to ourselves, “Well that didn’t workout the way I thought, I’ll just do something else.” In many ways that is not a bad response. However, I know there are times when I could try harder, when I could give “I can’t” a new meaning. There job, ministry, family  desires in my heart that I hesitate pursuing. Words like “I can’t, it’s too hard, it won’t work,” rumble through my mind. Fear, shame, worry, rejection are just a few of  the emotions that get in the way of turning “I can’t” into “I can.”
Here are three things I learned from this climbing trip that move me past praying for God to just make it happen into partnering with God on the journey.
  1. Be willing to do hard things
  2. Ask for help
  3. Get a new perspective.

It really is that simple. It took my son a lot longer to get up the 40+ foot climb that what he expected, but he made it.  He persevered. He stuck with it when it got really tough. It was a day that will continue to remind and inspire me to keep on and I hope it is for the climbers too.

Are you ready to give “I can’t” a new meaning? Are you ready to persevere? Are you ready to face the challenge in front of you? How have you made “I can’t” “I can?” Share your story here and breathe life and bring hope to others.

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