You can only....

I'm fond of saying, 'you can only do... what you can do'. Have no idea where this phrase originated, but it IS true. Yes? There's also the, 'it is what it is' comment or response. If I use these 2 phrases then why do I have such problems applying this philosophy? Because it really is more than a throwaway comment. It IS a mindset that governs what you do. And face it, the latter phrase is somewhat defeatist. Can one ever overcome an 'is'?

I think I'm going to have to change my words because I really don't want to be limited by this confining thought. True it may be, or is it? Is there another way to view 'is's' or what the prevailing 'do' is? Obviously I must think so or I wouldn't be asking the questions. Another way of thinking about this 'philosophy' is... what do you do when you are confronted by a very large obstacle to your goal? Do you give up/in? Do you quit? Or do you step back and take a look at the obstacle to discover what you can do, not only what you can't?

I would quickly argue that far too often we limit ourselves by what we say and then we begin to believe what we say without ever testing it. Perhaps it can be argued that we really can't do anything. Do you believe this? Is there a caveat in this thought? There's a Carol King song that says:

   "You got to get up every morning with a smile on your face and 
    show the world all the love in your heart..."

If you feel this doesn't make any difference, then will you still try? Maybe halfheartedly, but not with all the love in your heart. Sometimes we have to go against the tide, regardless of our experience and/or our feelings. We can. But I would suggest that we should never do so on our own. Why fight all the battles we face and all the stress alone? The Word says to 'cast our cares on Him' (1Peter 5:7). Too often I think we cast them and then just as quickly try and take them back. 

Jesus tells us that apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). It doesn't tell us NOT to try, but don't try alone. Personally, I find that the weight of all that is at hand somewhat overwhelming. And I really don't like to do overwhelming. When we don't need to... why, why, why do we try? If we are invited to cast our anxiety and cares on the One who can help us - it is really incredibly sad that we still try and 'soldier it alone'.

The phrase IS true - we can only do what we can do... but it is immensely easier when we share this with the One who has all the answers. The phrase never suggests to do it alone, but to do what we can do and then pray to the Lord for His involvement to carry (fill in the blank) to a successful conclusion. It really is amazing what we can do when we do it in partnership.