The Lies of Inability
Lies we tell ourselves…
Whether we realize it or not we talk to ourselves all through the day. We have a running monologue of what we’re doing, how we’re doing it and when we need to be done. We give ourselves little pep talks, we fill our minds with self doubt and everything in between. The unfortunate truth is that most of us are telling ourselves lies throughout the day to either justify what we’re doing (or not doing) or make an excuse as to why we had the outcome we did. This behavior is damaging.
In the Bible God is continuously asking people to do what they would deem crazy. And yet when they are able and willing, God makes a way where it seems there is no possibility.
There is nothing wrong with taking a look at what we know our strengths and weaknesses are (we all have them) and then assess the task at hand according to our perception. The lie that we tell ourselves in a lot of these cases, when we sit down to do something, go after a goal, tackle a big project, try something new is that we are unable because ______ and we fill in the blank.
We sit around and stew on what we filled in the blank with. Things like, “this will never work,” “I can’t do it,” “I’m not skilled enough,” “it's too hard,” “I don’t have time,” “I’m not smart enough,” start race tracking around our thoughts and before we know it we’ve talked ourselves out of doing the thing we set out to do.
Big or small, we find a way to listen to our own lie. We freeze in inaction and then use that to validate all the race tracking thoughts. Then we justify our inaction or what we’re viewing as time wasted getting started to say “See, I knew this would happen,” “I can’t do it,” “What was I thinking?” And before long we’ve compared ourselves up and down to everyone we know and people we don’t and decided we’ve got no business even trying to step into the arena. We go so far as to even begin to convince ourselves that God doesn't care about us and neither does anyone else. Crushing!
We tell ourselves the lie of inability and then beat ourselves up and wear ourselves down.
If we had a friend like that they would be on the short list of Do Not Talk To. We would never tolerate a friend looking us in the eye and saying the litany of negative thoughts we are telling ourselves plus the defamation of character and inability to be loved… we would run every time we saw them. Stop doing it to yourself!
Breaking the cycle is half the battle, but still only half. Getting yourself to pause long enough to get a word in edgewise can be difficult but when you do shut yourself up for a minute this is a great opportunity to fight back. Stop telling yourself all these negative things. Yeah, maybe you don’t have a complete knowledge of what this task will take, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn. It’s only too hard for someone who isn’t willing to put in the work. Maybe you’ll have to spread this project out over a few days, weeks, maybe it’s months and well into the future, and that’s okay.
The other half, once you've stopped the negativity, replace those negative thoughts with positive ones. Just like you feel like you’re providing evidence that you can’t, look back in your life and find proof that you actually can. The times you faced trials, overcame the obstacle, went the extra mile and got it done. We all have those moments too. Start filling the space in your mind with positive thoughts, backing it up with situations where you’ve excelled or succeeded and get on with it. Pray. Spend time with God. Ask the big questions, the hard questions, the crazy questions. Nothing you say is going to surprise him. Then listen for God to show you and speak to you like only he can. Shut the lies down.
Taking fresh action against these lies, even in baby steps, is how you continue to grow your self- confidence, your abilities, goals and dreams begin to become realized, finally your internal monologue changes and your relationship with your creator changes.
Lies of inability are not from God. God did not choose the wealthiest, most brilliant, most well-equipped people to carry out his plans. He chose people that were willing, and even in some cases their willingness was lacking but they were called. (God does have a sense of humor so be careful what you pray for but also a heart to grow us into the people that he knows we can be, people with impact, people with perseverance, people who make a difference.)
If you are familiar with the Bible you can go through and think about how many times God asked one of his people to accomplish a mission that initially seemed too hard, too scary, too big. Upon their compliance and willingness to lean on God and his word, his instruction they were made a success. David, Noah, Jonah. Ester, Joseph, Job… so many people asked God why? Why me? But in their faithfulness, their willingness, their ability to shut down their own lies they were able to accomplish what God set out for them to do.
If we step outside our own selfishness maybe God has put this calling on your life, a project in your heart, a dream in your mind because he wants it for you as much as you do. Maybe if you can get out of your own way long enough to start showing up as the person that God created you to be you would believe in your ability too.
The lie of inability is only to try to protect yourself from looking “some kind of way” to other people. God doesn't care what other people think. He wants your life to reflect his goodness, his love, his grace, his plan. Stop caring what others will think, step out of your lie of inability and start taking action towards the seeds God has planted in your heart.
