Book of Proverbs – Don’t Say You Can’t – Say Can. Check out my website
James and Michael his best friend and best man are out at the baseball game.
“What am I going to do Mike? Jenna wants me to take ballroom dance classes with her in preparation for the wedding. I can’t do that.”
“You think you have problems I have my own set. Madeleine wants me to take a Hot Air Balloon ride with her and she knows I have a fear of heights. I can’t do that”
Jenna and her best friend Madeleine at the nail salon.
“What am I going to do Madeleine? James wants me to go to a baseball game with him. He knows I don’t like sports of any type. I can’t do that.”
“I have my own issues as well. Michael wants me to learn French for our upcoming trip to France. I don’t want to do that. I just want to visit the Eiffel Tower and The Louvre. I can’t do that.
How many times have you said I can’t to God?
I can’t be an usher in the church. I can’t stand on my feet that long. I can’t sing in the choir. They rehearse a couple of times a week and then there are mid-week services as well as multiple services on Sundays. I can’t go on a mission trip. It is not a vacation it is hard work. I can’t go to seminary. When I graduate, I am supposed to be a reasonably perfect person free from sin. I can’t write that spiritual book. I am an unknown who is going to pay any attention to me? The list goes on endlessly of all the things God wants us to do and the answer is always I can’t.
When you tell someone, you can’t what you are really saying is that I am not interested in doing that. When we say we can’t do something it often means we don’t believe in our ability to do it. We refuse to try. We are concerned about how much time and effort it will take to do that thing. It’s a matter of how much time and effort we want to put into it. Let’s not leave out the fear factor which is usually snuggled up close to the word can’t. FEAR = False Evidence Appearing Real! Let’s look at the above examples:
James doesn’t want to take ballroom dance classes. Obviously, he is concerned about stumbling over his feet and looking clumsy around everyone else especially if the lessons are not private lessons with just him and his wife. There is also the fear factor. If it’s important to her than he should do it and don’t say I can’t.
Michael doesn’t want to take the Hot Air Balloon Ride because of fear. What did we just say about fear? It is False Evidence Appearing Real. He just needs to not eat anything before he goes up and drink minimal liquids, so his stomach doesn’t go sour on him. The most important thing, however, is to remember what the bible says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13.
Jenna doesn’t want to go to a baseball game because it doesn’t interest her. However, there could also be the fear factor here as well. If she is concerned about getting hit by a line drive ball coming in her direction, then she just needs to voice that to James and get seats behind the home plate where there is a protective net. She needs to remember the reason why they got married is to be together and want to please each other. This will please James and again she needs to remember “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13.
Madeleine doesn’t want to learn French. It’s not that she can’t she hasn’t applied herself and believes she doesn’t have the ability to learn it. She is saying she can’t, but the truth is she hasn’t even tried. Besides, it is just common courtesy to learn the basic phrases for another country if you are visiting. Hello – thank you – where is there a bathroom – how much does this cost – etc.
Do not say you can’t unless you can prove it is physically impossible. You can do all things through Christ! Book of Proverbs – Don’t Say You Can’t – Say Can. Check out my website
