Beyond Limitations

Imagine being born without arms and without legs. You’d never be able to run or dance or play sports. You wouldn’t be able to hold someone’s hand, pet a dog, or hug a friend. People would either pity you or mock you. You would have every reason to feel angry and cheated by life.

I saw a man today who faces this challenge. However, he has such a strong, compelling spirit, that after hearing him speak, you almost forget that he has physical limitations. His name is Nick Vujicic.

The following is an excerpt from his web page, www.lifewithoutlimbs.org:

“Due to the emotional struggles I had experienced with bullying, self-esteem and loneliness, God began to instill a passion of sharing my story and experiences to help others cope with whatever challenge they might have in their lives. Turning my struggles into something that would glorify God and bless others, I realized my purpose! The Lord was going to use me to encourage and inspire others to live to their fullest potential and not let anything get in the way of accomplishing their hopes and dreams.”

This young man is truly amazing. At 26 years of age, he travels around the world, speaking to others about the obstacles he’s faced and how with the strength and grace of God he has overcome them. Then he reminds his listeners that in the same way God has stood beside him and given him a purpose, God can take the pain we experience and give us hope and a purpose.

In effect, he dares us to come up with any fear or pain or struggle that is too big for God to overcome and meet us where we are. He challenges us to believe in the greatness of our God.

Nick insists that when God gives us a mission, it’s not up to us to decide if we are capable or not. It is up to us to trust Him, and to be willing to give whatever He asks us to give and go wherever He asks us to go and to meet people’s needs as He sends us to them. “What is your faith costing you today?” he asks.

Something else Nick said is that you can’t fix your life on your own. You can’t overcome that addiction, or repair that relationship, or do anything without His strength and power. Unless we turn our lives over to Him completely, we can do nothing of significance for Him.

Even though I wasn’t planning on going to church today, God brought a compelling message to me through the television ministry of Southland Christian Church in Kentucky, 350 miles from home. “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13)