Can't

 

for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.

Proverbs 24:16 (NIV)

 

More and more in ministry, I hear the word, "can't." "I can't do that." It can't work." "We can't change it." Maybe this is true. I suspect it is not as much as we think.

 

Wisdom tells us (scripture above) that the righteous (those who lean on God instead of their own wits) are persistent in the Lord's work because the Lord's work is not easy. Trials happen. Failures happen. Inexperience happens. Resistance happens. None are a sign that God is not present and is not encouraging His work. My mom called them "character builders" and they were. They build a human being. Without the hurdles to overcome, we are just another carbon based life form. Sometimes, we think that, if we do what the Lord asks, it will be easy. Consider Jesus. What he did was worthwhile but it was not easy.

 

A most dangerous stream of "can't" thought comes from those who say that once we commit ourselves to God, everything will go smoothly and we will be richly (monetarily) rewarded. Once again, consider Jesus, God's own son. He was not successful until after his death. He died broke and with his best friends deserting him. Yet he was a peace and his work has continued to infuse life generations later.

 

Consider today if, in doing God's work, "can't" really means "won't" or "I am scared." Persist. God has something wonderful in mind for the servant who risks life for something eternal.