Winning People with Our Limitations

Written by: Robert A. Henru

Image courtesy of tanakawho

Last Easter brought me into a reflection of God’s love. It was a reflection as I wrote an article for my blog, Reason-4-Smile Weblog. It was the last article on Limitation and Advantages series; a series that is very close to the theme in my blog, “turning limitation into advantages“.

Do you see your limitation as advantages?
The series talks about winning with your limitation. None of us like to have limitation. We all aim for the best of what we can be.

But here is a quote that stunned me…

What you resist will persist, but what you befriend, you will transcend.
~ Robin Sharma

Robin Sharma, a teacher in leadership, stated that overcoming our limitation comes after we befriend them. That may sound extreme, but it’s a perspective that we can change towards our limitations and things that we dislike about our life and our past.

Befriending means enjoying your life

Befriending them means that you’re enjoying who you are today, and that includes your limitations. You can be happy now, and that means you do not have to wait until everything is fixed before you can be happy. You should not postpone happiness.

Befriending means embracing your limitation

Befriending also means that you acknowledge them, be responsible about them, express them, and even make use of them. Limitations are your stepping stones; they may help you to shape your life, to change your character, to grow and improve, and to motivate you to reach your goals. A stepping stone is useful in reaching your dream, but a stepping stone is not your best friend. One day you will need to leave them behind, and you should not carry it with you to the top.

But this message is not about you…

Yes, this article is not about you. It’s about the others, about winning others. As what Daniel Richard said, Winning Everyone is about building people. Now, it comes down to the question: Is it really possible to win people with our limitations?

Most of us have trouble helping others and sharing God’s love to others. If you’re like me, you often troubled with your limitations and think that you’re not worthy enough to win people. We will always find excuse about our inadequacy. We often think that our life is not holy enough, not capable enough, or we are not the best example yet. Our struggles, weaknesses, and limitations often give us the reason to hold back and procrastinate in winning people.

But… do you know that there is one person who is limitless but willing to limit himself to win others?

Yes, I talk about Jesus. Let us see what Paul said about Jesus…

For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted. ~Hebrews 2:18

Jesus is God with all of His glory and limitless capabilities. He is beyond any limitations. He is the omnipotent, omnipresent, omni-benevolent God. And yet, He is willing to humble Himself. He comes down to our humble earth, born as a baby in the manger. Even more, He is willing to suffer and hunger. He accepted the criticism, judgment, mockery, betrayal, and even the cruel treatment from people. He imposed human limitation upon Himself so that He is able to help us who are tempted in the same way.

Winning people with our limitations

Jesus is a real example that everything is possible through God. He is also a real example of obedience despite of suffering and bad circumstances. And He is able to relate to human being, only if He imposed limitations on Himself, as it is shown on how He came to this world as a human being. The limitations made him a real example that anyone can pursue holiness, that anyone can pursue God’s call in life. A real example that impossible is nothing.

Similarly, each of us human has limitation, and it shapes us on how we should use our life for God’s purpose. Our limitation is there as an example of how you can relate to others. I will take Joyce Meyer as an example. She has a bitter background where she is abused by her dad. On her life journey, she struggled to accept her past, to throw out the bitterness inside her heart and also to accept how different she is from any other woman. Now, she has reached a point where she has been a blessing to many others. She is now a proof that anyone can overcome their bitter past experience. How she is able to stand right now is already a great testimony to others. And in the same way, anyone of us will be an example how we can life our best life despite of our limitations.

You have a role to play

We are not called to be everyone. Instead we are called to work with one another. Our limitations are also there so that we can team up with one another. One may not be the reaper, but one may be the one sowing, growing, or watering. It is the role with which we have to play in winning people.

What steps can you take to start winning people with your limitations?

1. Be thankful for the limitations you have

Realize that whatever your limitations right now maybe part of a bigger plan that God has in His mind. Be thankful as it is a part of the process you have to go through. Believe that God is able to use you much more to win people because of what you’ve gone through right now!

2. Make it as an advantage

Thomas Edison thanked his deafness to help him ignoring all the criticism he had. W. Mitchell, after got his accident that damaged his spinal cord and left him paraplegic, thanked the suffering he got to help him focus. Helen Keller lost both her sight and hearing, but she managed to inspire many others that anyone can overcome the overwhelming obstacles. With a different perspective, you can see your limitations as advantages. In this opportunity, I would like to share 2 messages on the advantages of limitations as well; one for ourselves and another for our relationship with others.

3. Start with what you have

You can start with whatever you have. We are not called to compare to one another. That will only make us feeling inferior, if not superior. With a different attitude, we will be able to look at what we have, start with it, and do the best with it.

My blog is started with a similar attitude. It’s a step that I take with whatever I have. I may not be a good speaker yet, my English may not perfect, but I move forward and take a step. And I really experience growth along the way. Similarly, I want to encourage you to always start with whatever you have. The growth will come as you make the steps.

I hope this article helped you to see a different perspective on your limitations. You can start winning people now, even with all your limitations!

For your success,
Robert

Editor’s note: Robert is one of the newest member / content creator to join the Winning Everyone (WE) team! He is also running his blog at Reason-4-Smile where he helps introverts to become successful in their lives. Thanks again Robert for being part of us!

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