A man’s got to know his limitations - Clint Eastwood

In the Greek myth of Daedalus and Icarus, the two are held captive on the island of Crete.  Desiring to be free, Daedalus, a great inventor, creates a set of wings for each of them. On the day of their escape, Daedalus warns his son to not fly too high as the wings are held together by wax, which will melt if he gets too close to the sun. The moment arrives and they soar into the sky. Freedom! But the story ends in disaster as Icarus fails to heed his father’s warning and flies too high. His wings fall apart and he plummets to his death.

Icarus failed to live within limits. Living within those limits would have meant joy and freedom. But exceeding those limits was deadly. We live in a world that despises limits. The embrace of a radical, expressive individualism leads many to believe that there are no limits or boundaries to life. This extends to their vocations, their sexuality, their relationships, and their place in the world. It even extends to their sense of self, as some live in a perpetual fantasy land.

Christians, however, should embrace limits. It is the nature of obedience. We see it throughout the Scriptures. From the very beginning, Adam and Eve had limits, both in their creatureliness and the prohibition to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of God and evil. John the Baptizer had limits, acknowledging that he was not the Messiah and that he needed to decrease when the Messiah appeared on the scene. Even Jesus knew limits. He didn’t heal every person who was sick or demon-possessed and he didn’t build a large ministry. The issue of limits was at the heart of his temptation by the evil one.

Peter Scazzero, in his book Emotionally Healthy Discipleship, offers some questions for reflection to help us discern God’s will around our limits.

*What are the limits of your personality and temperament?

*What are the limits of your current season of life?

*What are the limits of your marriage or singleness?

*What are the limits of your emotional, physical, and intellectual capacities?

*What are the limits of your family of origin?

*What are the limits of your time?

Saints, don’t kick against the goads of your limits. Heed the warning in the story of Icarus. Exceeding your limits will eventually lead to disaster in some shape or form. Instead, learn to love your limits as God’s gifts to you for your flourishing. He knows your frame and He knows what you are capable of handling. Don’t resist your limits. Rest in them.