YOUR OBSTACLE IS NOT YOUR END

​Growing up is hard, isn’t it?  About a year ago, I was having a heart-to-heart with my son, Caleb.  He was in tears and feeling hopeless about his 5th grade year.  Academically, we had no concern, because for the most part, he was an Honor Roll student.  But for about 4 months straight, his behavior and focus in class had taken a significant dive for the worse. The pattern that was emerging was that the more he was reprimanded or punished for the things he was doing wrong, the worse his behavior got.  As these issues began to compound, so did his low-self esteem.  More and more often, he was speaking words over himself like, “I’m just the bad kid.”  “My teachers hate me.” "Nobody likes me.”  My heart broke to hear these things come out of my 10-year old’s mouth.  Even though none of those statements were true, he really did feel those feelings.  He wasn’t trying to manipulate the conversation or elicit pity to get out of trouble.  He felt like he was at a dead end and that there was no hope for him to succeed.

Admittedly, I don’t know how anyone can parent without the guidance of the Holy Spirit in moments like these, because in my own strength and knowledge, I felt completely incapable!  As he sat there despondently, I cried out to God begging Him to give me His heart and His words for Caleb.  I sensed that this was a tender teaching moment that could not only get him through this dark night, but also potentially become a lifetime lesson for years to come.

It was then that the Lord began to give me a picture of an Obstacle Course.  In my mind’s eye, Caleb was running the course, but stopped dead in his tracks as he came upon a tall wooden wall blocking his path.  As I watched the scene unfold, I heard the voice of the Holy Spirit whisper: “This is not the end for Caleb.  It’s only an obstacle.”  Wow.  God moment.  I don’t think either of us will ever forget that conversation.  Even now - we have a God-given language to speak whenever challenges come our way.

Caleb’s not alone — we’ve all hit our own walls before.  It’s a discouraging and frustrating place to be, because just when we feel like we are making progress towards a desired destination — the wall appears and blocks our path.  It looms over us and silently screams of impasse.  Sometimes, we are paralyzed by the wall.  We want to get to the other side, but we don’t know how - and the only option seems to be to give up, and turn around.  Other times, we find ourselves slamming up against the wall like Chip Gaines on Demo Day - but unlike Chip, we learn quickly that forcefully trying to remove a wall on our own strength will only leave us more bruised and damaged than the wall itself!

Friend, what is your obstacle today?  Is it a crumbling marriage?  A wayward child?  Bills piling up?  Stress at work or school?  An addiction? What, in your life, seems to be blocking you from moving forward in your journey of faith?  It’s not a mistake that you stumbled upon these words today.  The Holy Spirit has been waiting to have a moment with you - and He is whispering to you now, over your heart, over your situation, over your mess:  “This is not the end for you.  It is only an obstacle.”    

There is a way to get to the other side of your wall.  Obstacles were MADE to be overcome!  Isn’t that the whole purpose of participating in an obstacle course - to get through the obstacles and make it to the finish line?  As much as your obstacle would have you believe otherwise, you can conquer it!  The bible tells us that the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead dwells IN us and that we are more than conquerers through Him who loved us!  (Romans 8:11, 37).   Regardless of how big or daunting your obstacle seems to be, do not be deceived!  It may look like the end.  It may feel like the end.  But it is not the end — and the only way it becomes the end, is is if you quit and give up.

So here is the question of the day:  Are you going to overcome your obstacle, or will your obstacle overcome you? Both options are viable scenarios — you really could go either way!  I’ll be the first to admit — almost every time I’ve ever faced with an obstacle or a wall in my life, my first reaction is to try and figure out a way of escape.  How can I get out of this?  But when I choose to quit, I am essentially saying that my obstacle is too big for God to help me overcome, which couldn’t be further from the truth!  There is NO obstacle, NO wall that is too big for God.  Jeremiah 32:17 says, O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!  

Quitting may seem like the easier way - and it probably is - but please know friend, you can’t win a race that you choose to quit!  My hope and prayer for you today, is that you would not quit!  That you would choose to overcome your obstacle!  Decide right now to take “I can’t” out of your vocabulary, because that is a statement that is just NOT true!  You CAN!   Philippians 4:13 says, I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me! 

Any time I felt like I couldn’t do something, my little brother Ben used to always tease me.  He’d say in his best lecturing voice,  “Christina, how many things can you do through Christ who gives you strength??”   Rolling my eyes and with a big sister sigh, I’d answer him, “ALL things, Ben.”  He might have been teasing…but little brother was speaking 100% truth!  Your wall may be BIG and daunting, but you CAN get to the other side of it!  We can conquer ALL walls!  ALL obstacles! 

King David knew this truth, and I can’t help but love this guy.  He said in Psalm 18:29, By my God, I can LEAP over a wall!  Reading about his lifestyle of worship and relentless pursuit of God, I literally picture him hopping on God’s back, piggyback style, and together, LEAPING over every obstacle that came his way.  David had learned from the time he was just a shepherd boy tending sheep in a field, to the day that he died as a King in the Hebrew Palace, that NO obstacle or wall is too big for God.   No lions, no bears, (oh my!) no giants, not even jealous kings out to murder him — NOTHING was too difficult for his God!  

Friends, as long as we stay connected and joined to God like David was, we will not only get over that wall, we will LEAP over it!  Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and overcome your wall today?  Let’s do it!