Pushing Beyond Limits: When God Invites Us into the Impossible

by Lori Wilson

During a recent spiritual direction session, a directee shared about feeling called to something that seemed beyond their capabilities. As we explored this together, I found myself reflecting on my own experiences with God's invitations to push beyond what I thought possible.

I'm not a natural athlete—definitely not a cheetah on the running trails. Truth be told, I don't particularly enjoy running. Yet God has invited me to complete a full marathon and two half-marathons. Each time I laced up those running shoes, I was stepping into something that felt impossible for me. But there was purpose in the pushing, growth in the stretching, and a deeper understanding of who God created me to be.

This theme of divine invitations beyond our perceived limits runs throughout Scripture. I'm continually drawn to that moment when Peter sees Jesus walking on water and asks to join him. Jesus' response is beautifully simple: "Come" (Matthew 14:28-29). No physics lesson. No pep talk about Peter's abilities. Just an invitation to step into what seemed impossible.

Similarly, when Jesus commissioned a small band of ordinary people—fishermen and tax collectors—to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19-20), imagine how overwhelming that calling must have felt. The scope was beyond anything they could have conceived for themselves.

Jesus seemed to specialize in calling people into spaces where they'd have to depend on something greater than their own capabilities. His invitations consistently required people to move beyond their own understanding of what was possible or reasonable.

What strikes me most is this: if we truly believed we could respond to these impossible callings—if we, like Peter and that small band of ordinary followers, actually trusted we could participate in creating a more loving world—how different would we be? How different would our world be?

The invitation to push beyond our limits isn't about becoming superhuman. It's about discovering that we are so much more than our limited minds can imagine. It's about learning to depend on the One who calls us forward, even when the path seems impossible.

Prayer: 

God of endless possibility, You see in us what we cannot yet see in ourselves. When you invite us beyond our comfort zones, beyond what feels safe and manageable, help us find the courage to say yes. Teach us to trust not in our own strength, but in your faithfulness. When we stumble, help us to try again. When we doubt, remind us of your presence. May we step boldly into the impossible things You are calling us toward. Amen.

For Reflection:

• What would it look like for you to go beyond the limits you've set for yourself? What would you attempt if you knew you couldn't fail?

• Where do you sense God might be calling you into something that feels impossible right now?

• Think of a time when you were invited beyond your comfort zone. What did you discover about yourself? About God?

• How might your willingness to push beyond your perceived limits serve not just your own growth, but the healing of the world?