“Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” – Isaiah 48:10 (NKJV)
Yesterday, we reminded ourselves that the word testing refers to the process of evaluating how something works or a person’s capability. Can this thing or person withstand the pressure or the struggle necessary to achieve the desired result? And the word, limit, speaks to restriction, or a maximum.
Friends, it is only during or after tests that we understand that in ourselves, we are nothing, but through faith in God, we can move beyond our limitations. In God, however, we have no limits or boundaries. Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I believe this! I experienced the freedom of my spirit when it was burdened, as I shared yesterday.
Yes, I can boast in the Lord as to how good He is. He has been taking care of me ever since I was served with those divorce papers. I lean heavily on Him, understanding that in Him all things are possible in my life, and I am not alone.
Here are four truths you can depend on as you continue to walk with the Lord, especially when you feel the walls of your limits closing in:
- Challenges are classrooms, not courtrooms. Your trials are not divine punishment for past failures. They are purposeful opportunities designed to build your endurance and mature your character. As James tells us, the testing of our faith produces patience, making us “…perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2–4).
- Your weakness is His workshop. God will often push you beyond your comfort zone, not to break you, but to reveal your weaknesses. He does this so you will finally stop relying on your own ingenuity, your own strength, or your own resources, and instead draw fully upon His.
- Faith is forged in the fire, not the classroom. You cannot learn to trust God in a book; you learn to trust Him when you’re stretched to your limit, like a rubber band. A rubber band is useless sitting in a drawer. It only serves its purpose when it is pulled, extended, and tested. So it is with your faith.
- Barriers are doorways in disguise. Fear, lack of resources, and self-doubt are not stop signs. When viewed through the lens of faith, they become the very obstacles that God moves aside to reveal His glory. Your limitations are not absolute barriers; they are opportunities for God to show up and show off.
Prayer
Lord, thank You that my limits are not a surprise to You, but the first step for Your power. When I feel the chill of reality and the weight of my circumstances, help me to hear Your still, small voice telling me to be still. Forgive me for trying to fight battles in my own strength. I surrender my boundaries to You today. Stretch my faith, reveal my weaknesses, and let Your power be made perfect in me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Read: Psalm 66:10-12; Romans 5:3-4
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 33:1-11; Mark 16; Leviticus 25; Leviticus 26:1-13