“I Can’t”: Two Simple Words God Loves to Hear

Do you ever get so frustrated or so discouraged that you want to shout, “I can’t!”?

It happens to me a lot. A project isn’t progressing the way I want or I’m just too tired to check off the next thing on my to-do-list. It may be a situation or a person I can’t fix. Or times I feel I should be able to trust God, but I’m just not able to churn up any more faith.

Condemnation sneaks up on me spitting out accusations: you aren’t . . . you can’t even . . . you’ll never . . . A good ole self-pity party begins because I tell myself I should be able to trust God with this situation but really, I’m still struggling.

The reality: I am weak

Once I was complaining to a friend and said, “After all, I should be able to trust God in this. I feel so ashamed.” She responded, “Susan, why do you think you ought to be able to trust God without struggle?” With that one statement she leveled me. In a flash I recognized my pride and my false expectations.

I had to face once again that even after many years of knowing Christ, I am still weak and broken. I don’t much like being weak or broken. I have high expectations for myself.

The apostle Paul struggled with this. He asked God to take away the “thorn in his flesh.” Instead God answered, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

In all honesty, I realize I want to be God — to fix myself and everyone around me. But I can’t. It isn’t all up to me. I am weak.  Holding everything together and changing people’s hearts is God’s job. It’s so easy to act like God doesn’t have all the information and needs me to fill Him in. How ridiculous is this?

I am learning that when I get to the place in my soul when I fall on God and cry out, “I can’t . . . I need you to do this . . .” that He actually smiles and cheers. Once again I admit my complete dependency upon Him.

I picture a newborn baby nestled in his mother’s arms, totally at peace. Completely dependent. I want to be like that with God but too often I act more like the stubborn toddler who says, “I can do it myself. I don’t need you.”

Who He is

The reality of who God is is far more important than who I am or am not. I am weak and broken and small, BUT He is big, strong, pure and all-powerful. I know he loves it when I finally say, “I can’t do this Lord. I need you.”

Some time ago I began a practice to help me focus on Him and His character instead of my weaknesses. (You may have heard me talk about this.) Before I get out of bed each morning I ask God to remind me of one aspect of His personality that I can stand on throughout my day.

You are the God who rescues.
You are still in control.
You lavish me with your love.

Choosing to focus on Him keeps me from falling into the trap of self–pity.

So today I’m focusing on the truth that His power is made perfect in my weakness. I’m not sure how He will actually do certain things in my life, but instead of getting stuck in worry, fear or striving, I am choosing to think about His power.

Let’s choose today to focus on Who He Is.

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