Has the phrase “I can’t” impacted you lately?

If so, keep reading…

Consider the following biblical passage:

Luke 13: 10-17 English Standard Version (ESV)

A Woman with a Disabling Spirit

¹⁰ Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. ¹¹ And behold, there was a woman who had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. ¹² When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” ¹³ And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. ¹⁴ But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” ¹⁵ Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? ¹⁶ And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” ¹⁷ As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.

What if this particular woman had believed the “I can’t” of her life?

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• I can’t go to the synagogue because people might criticize me.
• I can’t expect anything different than what has already been happening over and over again.
• I can’t believe any other words besides the negative words around me.
• I can’t receive healing from Jesus.

That last “I can’t” is tragic in itself. What if the woman hadn’t made her way to Jesus’ path (imperfections and all) when he invited her into his presence? Plenty of others had rejected Jesus’ invitation – including the ruler of the synagogue who had attempted to minimize this miraculous encounter.

I’m intrigued with her God-given ability to think beyond the “I can’t” of her life. God’s power and her tenacity brought a revival in more ways than one:

• Not only is her physical body revived but her spiritual self is renewed as she glorified God publicly and out in the open. #Revival
• The usual dynamics of the synagogue and the leader’s rules are challenged by Jesus who is called to set the captive free on any day that is deemed fit by God, heaven, and the perfect will of the One who created time. #Revival
• God is glorified in an environment where 18 years of suffering is transformed into a testimony of the goodness of a King who seeks and saves his own. #Revival

What “I can’t” are you facing at the moment? How can you give it to God and allow him to handle it in his way, timing, and purpose? Is it possible to say – “I can’t, but I know my God can”?

Life has a way of presenting “the impossible” – which gives us unique opportunities to put some faith-fueled vocabulary and actions into practice:

1. I feel weak, but my God is strong and working through me.
2. I’ve been waiting awhile, but God’s grace is sufficient.
3. I want to give up, but God’s love carries me day by day, moment by moment.
4. This situation is out of control, but I choose to surrender my pain, discomfort, and disappointment at the feet of Jesus — as much as I need to.
5. I feel alone, but I am empowered to reach out for support, resources, and help I may need.
6. I’m just hanging on, but my hope is in the One who gives me life – now and forever.

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Reflection Questions

•What faith-fueled vocabulary or actions do you feel the need to “activate” right away?

•How could you benefit from doing so?

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