The greatest hindrances to our success are often found within ourselves. We build up walls between ourselves and usefulness, and then lament because we can not surmount them. We look over the wall and long to be there, while all the time we are placing new stones upon the wall and building it higher and higher.
One of the greatest of these barriers is “I can’t.” How many people have built up this wall before themselves! They see work to be done, they see plenty of opportunities for doing effective service, but they distrust their ability. Or sometimes they are not willing to do their duty, and they begin at once to build a barrier of “I can’t” between themselves and their opportunity. Oh yes, it ought to be done, and they would like to do it, but there is that wall in the way. They would gladly do the work if they were over the wall, but it is too high, so the work must remain undone. This barrier is very easy to build, but hard to surmount. The reason it is hard to surmount is because the person is not willing to try.
No one knows what he can do until he tries. “I can’t” shuts out God’s help completely. It leaves no room for the operation of faith; it increases weakness. The more you say, “I can’t,” the weaker you will feel; and the weaker you feel, the less courage you will have to attempt anything. It is certain that we can not do anything if we do not try. It is certain that we can succeed in doing whatever God wants us to do. He has said, “My grace is sufficient”; has he spoken truly? He says, “I will help thee”; does he mean it? If he does, you will not fail if you do your part. The trouble is, you do not give him a chance to help. When the opportunity comes and the Spirit moves you to act, you draw back behind the wall of “I can’t,” and do nothing. Have you not had many chastisements because of doing thus? Have you not missed many blessings? has not work gone undone, and have not opportunities remained unused?
Paul had no place for this barrier in his life. He was a man who did things. He believed that God would help him in all he undertook. “I can’t” had no place in his life. He said, “I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.” What you need is to quit saying, “I can’t,” and begin believing God. Throw down this self-made barrier; quit looking at your weakness; look at God’s strength. Dare to do, dare to act, and you will succeed beyond your expectations.