By 
We have limits on our credit cards, time limits on meetings and sporting events. Even the number of hours we have sunshine are limited each day. No matter who you are, there are limits in your life. The Corona Virus is causing many of us to come face-to-face with our physical, emotional, and spiritual limits in new ways. We now have to limit our errands, and our so-called social distance on our errands. If we do go out there is no toilet paper on the shelves, fewer eggs, and we are limited in how much meat we can buy. We have less time to ourselves because the children are home all day, which limits our patience. We have no clue how long this will last. Indeed, we may wonder where God is in all of this.
Let's think about God for a minute in the context of limits.
Because God is Creator, He is sovereign over all He has made. God spends four chapters questioning Job to help him understand He is in control of all creation and possesses all wisdom and knowledge. He "assigned to the sea its limit" (Proverbs 8:29, ESV) saying, "‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther’" (Job 38:11, ESV). He sends “the lightning bolts on their way" (Job 38:35, NIV). He even set the limits of Satan's activities in Job's life (Job 1:12; 2:6).
Colossians 1:16-17 (ESV) tells us, all things were created through him and for him …and in him all things hold together.
We talk about God being omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. Because He knows all things and is present everywhere and possesses all power, we tend to think that God has no limits. But that is not true. It may sound a little scandalous to say, but God does have limits. He possesses all power, but limits how He uses His power. He is limited by His character. There are things God cannot do because of His holiness and consistency of character. For example, God cannot lie. In fact, Hebrews 6:18 (ESV) tells us it is impossible for God to lie. He cannot answer every prayer we pray with a yes, because He will not violate His character, His timing, or His purposes. However, we can trust that His purposes are always accomplished.
God told His people, during an unprecedented time of persecution and suffering, "Remember this and stand firm…I am God, and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose'" (Isaiah 46:8-10, ESV).
When we find ourselves coming to the end of our patience, or needing wisdom, or wondering where He is, we can rest assured He is seated on the throne and ready for us to come to Him for the mercy and grace and wisdom we need.
The book of Hebrews was written to believers during an intense period of suffering and persecution. Many were considering turning away from their faith in Christ and returning to Judaism. The author spends chapter after chapter showing them how futile this would be because Jesus is far superior to the angels (1:4), greater than Moses (3:3-6), and is the great high priest (4:14). The most beautiful thing about Jesus, our great high priest, is that He understands.
He understands because He has shared in our humanity. He suffered when He was tempted and therefore is able to help us when we are tempted (2:14-18). Hebrews 4:15-16 says, For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
When we don't understand what is going on or wonder how we are going to get through the unknowns, we can focus on what we do know.
God is in control. (Colossians 1:17)
We are loved. (John 3:16; Ephesians 1:4-5)
His purposes are always accomplished. (Isaiah 46:10-11)
He understands. (Hebrews 4:15)
And last but not least, He is interceding for us. Romans 8:34 (NIV) tells us Jesus died for us, and is alive, and is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. As is the Spirit who intercedes for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:27, ESV).
Recognizing we are human and have limits is not a bad thing. When we come to the end of ourselves and meet our dark side, we are forced to recognize our need for our Savior, as well as to see God in new ways.
Job said at the end of his trial, after God had shown him clearly His sovereign wisdom and power, "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. …I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ...I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42.2-6, ESV).
What a great reminder, as we approach Easter Sunday, to remember that we are dust, and that God sent His Son to share in our humanity so that we might boldly come to Him in our time of need. Understanding our limits and recognizing our need can bring us face-to-face with our Savior at the foot of His throne, where we can receive mercy and grace from our Faithful High Priest.
Kim Prothro
Kim fell in love with Jesus and studying God's word in the eighth grade. That eventually led to a dream of attending seminary which she did after her children were grown. She graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary in 2013 with a Masters in Theology and was part of the original group of women who founded Womenary in 2008. She has been a past professor for Womenary and is currently the Director of Soul Care at Living Well Holistic Counseling and Wellness Center. Kim can be contacted at kim.prothro@gmail.com. 
