5 Excuses that are Holding You Back
Everyday we’re faced with choices on whether we’re going to act in faith or shrink back and be passive. Too often, we allow excuses to give us permission to back off from the lives we were born to live. But these excuses aren’t always easy to spot and many of us are living in them without even fully realizing it.
Here are 5 common excuses that are holding you back from living the full life you were born to live.
1. If I haven’t done it by now, there’s no point
We’re so fast to disqualify ourselves from the dreams that lie within our hearts. Even if we’re still pretty young, we get this idea that if I haven’t already “made it,” then there’s really no point in starting anything. But that’s not what God says about you.
“For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.” - Romans 11:29 NLT
No matter your age, your degree level, your marital status, your financial standing or your “spiritual level,” the gifts and calls that God has placed on your life can NEVER be withdrawn.
We’re never waiting on God, but He is waiting on us. What is it that you’ve been longing to do, start or be a part of that you keep putting off? What desire has been laying dormant in your heart for years, that when you dust off the cobwebs and dare to look at it again, you’ve almost forgotten it was there? What purpose are you shrinking back from?
The journey is before you and the adventure awaits you. There is nothing stopping you from moving forward, except, maybe… you!
2. I’ve made too many mistakes
Welcome to the club! I’m pretty sure every human being who has ever breathed has made mistakes. Actually, I know they have because it says in Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Yet when it comes to our own mistakes, we tend to grade ourselves more harshly.
You need to understand that Jesus is much bigger than any mistake you could or will ever make. His blood is more precious than your failings, His sacrifice was more beautiful than your faults and His promises are more sure than your realities.
“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” - Hebrews 8:12 NKJV
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” - Psalm 103:12 NKJV
As far as God’s concerned, sin is a non-issue. When you become born again, your sins are forgotten, removed, never to return. The only reason they are a problem for you is because you make them your problem.
Stop letting your mistakes drag you down. You can’t move forward if you keep looking backwards. Keep your eyes on Jesus and it will shrink you down as you magnify Him.
3. I’m just a passionate person
Okay, I know we all have heard (and possibly said ourselves) “I’m just a passionate person. I feel deeply and that’s why I react like this...”
Typically, this is an excuse to act like however you want, hurt whoever you want, and be justified in doing it because you apparently have no control over your emotions, while the rest of us are supposed to own them.
The truth is, you have just as much ability to control your emotions as Jesus did because…
“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.” - 1 John 4:17 NKJV
In our spirits (the part of us that was born again) we are identical to Jesus. There is no difference. Our emotions, however, reside in our soul and that part of us is being transformed as we renew our minds in the word of God.
If you’re rude, snappy or short with people, apologize! Don’t use an excuse to justify what you did. That’s not going to bless anyone. We all know we’re not perfect so let’s stop being afraid of our imperfections. Jesus is perfect enough to cover our failings.
4. I don’t have great faith like other people
We all have those people in our lives we look up to as great men and women of God. But what if I were to tell you that they don’t have any more faith than you do? You’d probably think I’m blaspheming God or something…
But it’s actually true! We use this excuse for a lack of results or real fruit in our lives because it’s easy to say and most Christians accept it. But it’s against what scripture says…
“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” - Romans 12:3 KJV
Notice he says “the” measure of faith. Now if you’re reading any other translation than the King James Version, then it probably says “a” measure of faith. While I think reading other translations are fine to get a new perspective, it’s super important that we maintain a standard. Bring every scripture back to the King James Version and you’ll have a better understanding of what that verse is actually saying.
In this verse, it makes it clear that we are all given THE measure of faith.
You know when you go into Sephora and you get to use your points to pick out their make-up or skin care samples? Each of those samples contains THE measure of moisturizer or THE measure of eye shadow. It doesn’t matter who picks them up, everyone gets the exact same amount because the measure is the same for all.
It’s the same with our faith. We all have the same amount, but not all of us are utilizing what we have. We are all operating in varying degrees of faith, but we all have access to THE faith of Jesus Christ.
Don’t let the enemy convince you that you’re not a strong enough Christian to reign in life. It’s just simply not true!
5. I’m just not very good at witnessing to people
“But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.” - 1 Corinthians 12:18-20
This one used to get to me a lot. When I went on a mission trip to Berlin, Germany, I was forced to do street evangelism and walk up to people I didn’t know! Honestly, I think it was really good for me and it is important to step out of your comfort zone. But you know what else I learned on that trip…. I’m not gifted to witness on the streets!
I believe every Christian can witness to strangers, but I don’t believe every Christian has a supernatural gift of it. We all have different gifts and we shouldn’t judge others (or ourselves) if we don’t have the same gifts as someone else.
Typically, the gift of evangelism is seen as one of the “superior” gifts and if you don’t operate in it, you are not in faith. This is just silly!
When I realized this, it set me free! I was able to focus in on how God had uniquely gifted me to minister to people. One way is my husband and I love having friends and neighbors over to our home. We host, cook and spend time talking and getting to know people. One-on-one interaction where we create a safe place for people to be themselves and relax is a wonderful way to minister to people!
People shouldn’t just be able to hear about your faith; they should be able to see it, too. How has God gifted you to minister to others? You might be surprised by what you find.
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” - Ephesians 6:12 NKJV
Remember, the enemy doesn’t attack what his is not threatened by, and there is something on your life that terrifies him. Maybe it’s not what you see when you look in the mirror. I know my morning reflection would certainly terrify some folks but not in that way…
No, when he looks at you, he sees Jesus. He sees your future and he sees your potential. His mission is to distract you and get your eyes off of Jesus and onto your imperfections, onto these excuses!
The next time you’re tempted to believe one of these lies, whip out these verses and remind yourself who you are and what you really have inside you.
You don’t have to live your life enslaved to the negative thoughts and emotions that come your way. See them for what they really are - attacks on your heart - and put your armor on girl… This means war!
Fight well,
Jess