There are plenty of things in life that claim to be unlimited. All-inclusive resorts, unlimited data plans, bottomless fries at Red Robin. Yet all the limitless options and plans that are a marketer’s delight will eventually reach an end. The buffet or bar at the resort will close for the night. You’ll sit at a stoplight in a dead zone, unable to refresh your Instagram feed. Heartbreakingly, you’ll see the bottom of the Red Robin fry basket.
These things must reach an end, because they’re created things—they’re finite.
So what do we have that is really, truly unlimited? The answer comes back to God, the uncreated One, the One who was before all things and in whom all things hold together (Col. 1:17). Anything that is truly unlimited is found in him, the only limitless One.
Unlimited Access
As believers, we have unlimited, free, unrestrained access to God our Father. It’s the truth of Hebrews 4:16: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” We have this unlimited access and confidence to draw near because of the work of Jesus Christ. He is our great High Priest, the Son of God, tempted as we are yet without sin. (Heb. 4:15)
If we are in Christ, saved by his grace alone through faith alone, then we will never wear out our welcome with God the Father. He will never close the door on us. We have an open invitation to approach his throne, to draw near, and to dwell in his presence. And as the psalmist says,
“…in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore”
Psalm 16:11
Not only is our access unlimited, but the Father we approach is limitless. As we come to him, we find in him everything that we need. This is the good news in our limits—they point us to our Creator, who is infinitely, exceedingly, abundantly generous! We see the full measure of his love for us on display in the gift of his Son, Jesus: “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Paul goes on to write, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32).
Do you see the goodness of this unlimited access? Consider the worth of confidently approaching the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. How would it transform your days to remember, in your limitations, the attributes of the God to whom you have access?
When I Am Weak…
We can see a picture of this in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, when Paul tells of his “thorn in the flesh.” We don’t know what Paul’s thorn was, but it’s clear that it weakened him, spiritually, physically, or both. We can relate to Paul; he was weak and dependent because of this thorn. Paul prayed that the thorn would be removed; I’ve prayed this prayer in my own life, asking the Lord to remove the limits or draw new boundary lines for me. Perhaps, like Paul, this is a prayer that you’ve prayed repeatedly. Our unlimited access to the Father means that we have the freedom to approach him often with these prayers.
But the Lord’s response to Paul wasn’t to remove the thorn. No, instead he responded, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). He had something far better for Paul than the removal of the thorn. He offered him grace. He didn’t remove the weakness, but he drew Paul near, strengthening him with his own power. Paul was able to rejoice in his weakness rather than resisting it, boldly claiming, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10).
Daily Reminders and Invitations
Our limits are a daily reminder of our need, our weakness, and our dependence. They remind us of what is always true—we are created beings. But as we remember that we are creatures, we also remember our Creator, who is infinitely different from us. Our limits are also a moment-by-moment invitation to come to our limitless Father. We boldly approach him because of the work of his Son, “from [whose] fullness we have all received, grace upon grace” (John 1:16). We drink deeply from the well of his grace. When we are physically weak and nearing our limit, we find strength in the One who never grows weary (Is. 40:28). When we need sleep, we entrust ourselves and those we love to the One who never slumbers or sleeps (Ps. 121:2-4). When we’re confused, perplexed, or at the end of our understanding, we ask for wisdom from the One who gives generously and without reproach (James 1:5).
When you feel the limits of your own ability, wisdom, time, capacity (or anything else that reveals you’re human), pause for a moment to consider the nature of God and the ways he is unlike you. Let your heart be moved to worship him! He is immortal, invisible, God only wise. He is transcendent and infinitely other, and yet he is Emmanuel, God with us. He beckons you to draw near, to find grace to help in your time of need. That invitation is truly unlimited!