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Self
Made Barriers
(Selected from 'Heart Talks' by C.W. Naylor)
It seems
strange that any one should build barriers in his own way and lay
hindrances in his own path. But that is just what many people are
doing. They wish to accomplish something; they desire to do
something for the Lord; but some way they find themselves always
hindered. They look back upon their lives, and see that they have
done very little. How many times they have desired to be as useful
as others! But someway, somehow, they were not.
The greatest hindrances to our success are often found within
ourselves. We build up walls between ourselves, and usefulness and
then, lament because we cannot 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 cannot 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.
"I am afraid," is almost as common a barrier as "I can't." How many
people shrink from duty, saying: "I am afraid I will make a mistake.
I am afraid I shall not do it right." They let this fear become a
great wall before them; they pile fear upon fear; and as they look
at them, their fears constantly grow greater. Soon they come to a
place where these fears hedge them in till they dare not attempt
anything. Do you remember the man who said, "I was afraid," and went
and hid his lord's talent in the earth? Read his story in Matt. 25:
24-30. See what his lord said to him, and note the result of his
conduct. Are you doing the same thing? If so, what will be the
result in your case? Fear will tie your hands if you allow it; it
will make you a profitless servant.
"I don't know how" is a third barrier. Have you hidden from duty
behind this wall? Is this your answer to God when he tells you to do
something? The Bible says that, "Christ Is made unto us wisdom."
Again, it says, "If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God." If God
gives you a task to perform, he will give you the wisdom to do it as
he wishes to have it done. Possibly you do not know how, but God
knows, and if you try, understanding will be given you. If you seek
wisdom from him, he will not fail to give it. If we always knew how
to do things, we should not need God's help to show us; but as it
is, we must often dare to undertake what he wants us to do in his
wisdom and in his strength, no matter whether we can see the outcome
or not. God wants us to rely on him, and to go ahead in his
strength.
"I am not sure" is another barrier. It is well to know God's will
definitely, but many times people want to be so very sure that God
has no way of making them feel sure. They do not take the assurance
that he gives; they want something more. Reason and good judgment
tell them to go ahead, but they build up the barrier "I am not
sure," and hide from duty behind it. We ought not to decide hastily
or rashly, but we ought to decide, and then act upon our decision.
One may cultivate the habit of indecision until his usefulness is
greatly hindered, and he is constantly tortured wondering what he
ought to do. It would be better to make a few mistakes than to let
indecision hold us back from everything.
"They will think" is still another self-made barrier. The fear of
being misunderstood or having remarks made about them is some
people's greatest hindrance. "They will think that, and so fear of
what people will say closes the mouth and ties the hands, rendering
life fruitless. The thing that ought to concern us is, "What will
God think if we do not do it?" It is to him we must give account. It
is his approval we should seek. If he approves, what others think is
a small matter. Are we not willing to be misunderstood for Jesus'
sake?
Let us cease to build these barriers before us. Let us throw down
what we have built. Let us decide we will not be held back from duty
by our fears. Let us go forward in the strength that God will give.
Let us trust more in God, and be confident that he will not fail us.
Have you not read that the "Man of God" was to be thoroughly
furnished unto every good work? If you would pay more heed to
getting your furnishings than you do to your fears, you might become
far more fruitful. Thus, you would be more happy here and reap a
greater reward hereafter.
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