Yes, I Can!

 

“I can’t; I won’t; I don’t.” These are the words that keep people from reaching their highest potential in life. There’s no telling how different this world would be if certain people throughout the ages had not lived up to their fullest potential. Consider this: What if… Michelangelo had said, “I don’t do ceilings.” * David agreed with his brothers and said, “I can’t do giants.” * Michael Jordon believed his grade school coach and said, “I can’t do basketball.” * Neil Armstrong feared the unknown and said, “I won’t do outer space.” * George Washington weighed the odds and said, “I don’t do revolutions.” * Henry Ford had no vision for the future and said, “I can’t do cars.” * Walt Disney had no sense of humor and said, “I won’t do mice.” * The apostle Paul was worried about persecution and said, “I can’t do mission work.” * Thomas Edison, after failing hundreds of times, had said, “I can’t do lightbulbs.” * Not willing to fulfill the promise of God, Jesus had said, “I can’t do the cross.” Just think what a different world this would be. We have been super blessed all because of a few individuals who chose not to say, “I don’t; I won’t; I can’t.”

The hymn writer, Fanny Crosby (March 24, 1820 – February 12, 1915) gave us more than 6,000 gospel songs. Although blinded by the improper treatment of an illness at the age of six weeks, she never became bitter. One time a preacher sympathetically remarked, “I think it a great pity the Master did not give you sight when He showered so many other gifts upon you.” She quickly replied, “Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I should be born blind?” Surprised the preacher asked, “Why?” Crosby stated, “Because when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior!” One of Crosby’s hymns was so personal that for years she kept it to herself. Kenneth Osbeck, author of several books on hymnology, says its revelation to the public came about in this way: One day at a Bible conference in Northfield, Massachusetts, Miss Crosby was asked by D.L. Moody to give a personal testimony. At first she hesitated, then quickly rose and said, ‘There is one hymn I have written which has never been published. I call it my soul’s poem. Sometimes, when I am troubled, I repeat it to myself, for it brings comfort to my heart.’ She then recited the lyrics while many wept. The first stanza and chorus reads, “Some day the silver cord will break, and I no more as now shall sing; But oh, the joy when I shall wake within the palace of the King! And I shall see Him face to face, and tell the story – saved by grace!” (“Saved by Grace” Crosby/Stebbins)

[Matthew 5:45] “…for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Somewhere, someone is receiving bad news and having to deal with unexpected challenges. It could result in existing in the darkness of being alone, or having feelings hurt, or unsure of when that next meal will come, or wondering how that next payment is going to get made, or surgery combined with excruciating pain during recovery. During times like these sometimes we want to quit right where we are and never take another step because we don’t know what the future holds. Our Creator has given us directions to overcoming our biggest obstacles if we will love, trust and submit our lives to Christ. We will persevere during challenges when we realize: We all suffer at some point (Matthew 5:45); Christians are not immune to grief or suffering (2 Timothy 3:12); We are to help others who suffer (Galatians 6:2); We must bear our own burdens (Galatians 6:5); We must learn to always be content (Philippians 4:11-13).