Break Free From Limitations, Big And Small

The Lord is always moving on our behalf to show us the way. With this amazing truth at hand, I wonder, Am I moving as I should on God’s behalf or am I moving on my own behalf?

This question is truly one to ponder.

I think of all the times the Lord has been my guide, showing me how to move forward.

I can recall the Lord reminding me after the Las Vegas shooting to keep going as an example of His strength.

As much as I would like to think of myself as being totally successful for the Lord, in some ways I have halted any progress by moving in a way that is comfortable for me – on my own terms.

I came to this realization recently when I had an anxiety attack at church during a series called “Summer At The Movies.” The idea of me sitting in a dark setting with tons of people was just too much. I quickly told church leadership to place me in the back by the door where I could see and hopefully be in control of my emotions.

This is the very area of my life I need to depend on the Lord the most, yet I try to fix it on my own by limiting certain scenarios. I can see clearly I have been building walls to protect myself from my own fears and thus, moving on my own behalf.

Today, I want to take the first step to break free from the limitations I have put on myself in the past six years. I have never written about my PTSD, resulting from the Route 91 Las Vegas shooting, but I know the time is now if I’m ever going to move forward.

In doing this, I believe I can begin to fully live out the Lord’s plan as He comforts me through the healing process. I pray that my honesty will also push you forward in any areas of your life blocked by limitations.

The Lord asks us to take one important step each day and that is to live by faith.

“Do not be afraid; only believe.”

Mark 5:36 NKJV

God is asking us to believe in Him and the promise that He is there with us.

Believing is what we can do on the Lord’s behalf, because that belief is our faith coming to life for others to see.

A List Of Limitations

At times, life ends up in what feels like broken pieces, and fear can become the frontrunner in our thoughts instead of our faith.

After the shooting, I became aware of every little thing.

A weird noise in between the shoe aisle at Marshalls put me in such a frenzy thinking there could be a bomb in the store that I quickly went in search of an employee to let them know something was terribly wrong. She explained the beeping was only an alert from one of the shoe boxes.

I sat frozen when I saw an older male standing outside the back room of the boutique I helped my sister run. My heart stopped as I gasped for air thinking someone was there to hurt me. This man was a family friend stopping by to check up on me.

I then thought I was in another shooting when drummers echoed loudly up the walkway one day at church. For the first time ever, I left the service, and did not return. I just couldn’t shake the uneasiness my heart and body felt in that moment, even though I could see the sound was simply drums.

Panic attacks still hit me every now and again during worship at my church; this being the most frustrating struggle to date because this is my home away from home.

I tell myself I can’t give up, but somehow I have also accepted that certain environments are no longer for me.

I started with the obvious and then expanded:

• Concerts, a definite NO.
• Las Vegas, I just can’t.
• Movie theaters, well, that’s out.
• The fair, too large of a crowd, so NO on that.
• 4th of July celebration, stay at home to avoid the noise.

This all makes perfect sense in my mind, but writing it out brings to the surface that what I am doing is not a part of God’s plan. This is my own plan.

Take One Step At A Time

The Lord has always told me from day one to keep moving forward. I must begin to believe that with God’s help, I can do just that.

And so can you.

What are you trying to manage on your own right now that you need to give to God so He can begin to guide you into His plan of healing and restoration? Do you have a list of limitations?

Here in this moment, know that God wants to walk you through your journey of healing one step at a time.

Moses speaks to the Israelites on God’s behalf as they travel to the promised land. This is so eye-opening for anyone who is stuck limiting themselves.

“The Lord our God spoke to us at Horeb: ‘You have stayed at this mountain long enough. Resume your journey and go to the hill country, the Judean foothills, the Negev and the sea coast – to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon as far as the Euphrates River. See, I have set the land before you.'”

Deuteronomy 1:6-8 HCSB

Resume your journey. The Lord is speaking this over us as well. Resume your journey.

This speaks volumes to me as I set up this list of limitations that has become a mountain I am not willing to leave.

Of course, it’s normal after any traumatic experience or loss to want to protect yourself and give yourself time, but if we are unwilling to trust God, then we are also not willing to allow God to restore our hearts and lead us into the promise He has planned.

Again, the Lord says, “I have set the land before you.”

He is already making a way. He has gone ahead of us. He is protecting us. This is what the Lord is asking us to believe.

Moses further explains to the Israelites that they had lost their way because they weren’t willing to believe in what God had spoken over them – that they would in fact make it to the promised land.

“So I said to you: Don’t be terrified or afraid of them! The Lord your God who goes before you will fight for you, just as you saw Him do for you in Egypt. And you saw in the wilderness how the Lord your God carried you as a man carries his son all along the way you traveled until you reached this place. But in spite of this, you did not trust the Lord your God, who went before you on the journey to seek out a place for you to camp.”

Deuteronomy 1:29-33 HCSB

This powerful verse not only brings to light the need for us to trust God and keep moving for His purpose, but it also displays His love for us. We are His children.

There is never a moment we are without Him.

He is carrying you through the wilderness of illness, depression, loss. He is also carrying you to a place of peace, joy, and wholeness.

Leaving The List Behind

While the anniversary of the Las Vegas Shooting can easily bring me back to a state of unraveling, today I will keep going, one step at a time, for the Lord. I will, in faith, resume the journey set before me because there might just be a place the Lord needs me to go or a person he needs me to help.

This means leaving my list of limitations behind so I can be more open to the Lord’s plan.

In order to do this, a switch needs to occur, from a dependence on one’s self to a dependence on God.

The step each of us can take right now is to get into prayer and hand over that list of limitations to the Lord, however big or small.

As I do so with you, I am praying for any person standing at what feels like a mountain. I pray that the Lord’s love will strengthen you to walk out the door and move forward in a new way today. I pray that His comfort puts any fears at ease. May any limitations turn into possibilities.

Thank you Jesus for never leaving us. Thank you for carrying us when we couldn’t take the next step. You have been there all along, moving on our behalf. We hand over to you the limits we create. Allow us to see how we can begin to move forward for you in the days to come. In your mighty name, we pray. Amen.

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