I Can Do All Things

The great were once as you. They whom men magnify today once groped and blundered on life's way, were fearful of themselves and thought, "By magic was men's greatness wrought". Edgar A. Guest

Have you ever longed to do something big, but decided that it was not in your grasp? Maybe you dreamed "big dreams", only to conclude that those grand ideas were only for special people with mystical qualities that set them above the rest. Having decided that your big ideas were only for elite people with special gifts, you gave yourself an excuse and settled for mediocrity.

If this remotely describes the reasons for why you have not accomplished great things, then welcome to the club! This is the way that most people live and explains why most never accomplish the things that they dream of. Now, there is absolutely nothing wrong with not having accomplished great things. There is, however, very much wrong with not even attempting to do great things.

Some of the world's most successful people have failed greatly. Thomas Edison failed 10,000 times in trying to come up with a filament for his light bulb. The thing that set Edison apart from the crowd was not in his failures, but in his willingness to continue to try. Because Edison was unafraid of great failures, he was able to accomplish great things. And because of his willingness to fail, we no longer have to sit in the dark when the sun goes down.

The saddest people though are not the ones who fail in the physical endeavors of life, but in the spiritual. They think that Heaven can only be grasped by those who are saints in the first place so, when it comes to anything spiritual, they don't even try. They excuse themselves by concluding that they cannot be "good enough" or that they are not clever enough to understand the Bible or that they are just unworthy because of something in their past. And by failing to even try, they miss out on the greatest thing ever: Eternal life!

What a waste of a perfectly good life!

The fact is that God calls us to a life of great things - not a few years of mere existence with a few occasional pleasures mixed in. Even a slug exists! Even a pig has some occasional pleasures, especially if he has a full stomach and a cool puddle of mud to lie in.

But, we are not slugs or pigs - We are children of the King. As such, we were called to greatness! So, if you have been hesitant to try something great because you are afraid of some great failure, then wake up! Great things have always come from great effort and great plans and great faith. Our Lord will determine whether we succeeded or not, but the courage and the determination to begin must come from within each one of us. So, great things await! Heaven awaits! Will you have the courage to take hold of these great things?

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13, NIV