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I Can’t, I Don’t, and I Haven’t

By Brenda Duckett

Women’s lives are often fraught with challenges. We are overburdened with deadlines, workloads, and personalities in the workplace. Even in our personal lives, we find ourselves multitasking. In addition to shopping, dinners, housework, children and husbands that demand our time and attention, many of us are dealing with ministries. We know about stress, overload, and challenge!

It is the constant pressures of our lives that cause us to proclaim, “I can’t, I don’t, and I haven’t.”

I can’t see how this will work out.
I can’t carry this burden.
I can’t get the support I need.
I don’t have enough time in my day.
I don’t have enough ability or resources.
I don’t feel like it. (Lord, send someone else.)
I haven’t spent the quality time with the Lord that He desires.
I haven’t done enough.
I haven’t been all that I should be.

All of these responses are reminders of the battle we fight on a daily basis. We are painfully aware that our best efforts and personal sacrifices come up short. Hebrews 10 admonishes us that our sacrifices—no matter how selfless or noble—will never be enough! Hebrews serves as a correction for “I can’t, I don’t, and I haven’t.”It reaffirms that even if we could, or if we did, or if we had, we would still come up short. It is not our strength or our skill or our determination that makes the difference. Verses 9 and 10 assert that it is not our efforts but Jesus’ sacrifice that makes all the difference in our lives.

Jesus’ sacrifice now makes it possible for us to have access to God through the priesthood of Christ. Because of this access, we need not concern ourselves with “I can’t, I don’t, and I haven’t.” Hebrews 10:19-21 encourages us to embrace the better way that God has already provided us. We can transform these three negatives into three positives.

“I Can’t” Becomes “He Can”

Hebrews 10:22 invites us to change our “I can’t.” “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.” We can trust God with our burdens. Christ is faithful. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 declares, “The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” Whatever we stand in need of He will provide. As we draw near to him, “I can’t” becomes “He can!”

“I Don’t” Becomes “He Will”

Hebrews 10:23 invites us to change our “I don’t.” “Let ushold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” We must believe that God, through Jesus Christ, has more than equipped us to handle life’s obstacles. We must not lose faith. We must not throw in the towel. Galatians 6:9 exhorts us, “…not to become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” James 1:12 reminds us: “Blessed is the man (or woman) who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised.” When we endure by faith, our “I don’t” becomes “He will.”

“I Haven’t” Becomes “He Has”

Finally, Hebrews 10:24 invites us to change our “I haven’t”: “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” When we attempt to consider others by offering love and good works, we reflect the very nature and character of Christ. John 15:13 states, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” The depth of Christ’s love and sacrifice is clearly seen in Romans 5:8. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” In Him, through Him, and because of Him, “I haven’t” becomes “He has.” He has given the greatest example of consideration and love for others. He has also left us a teacher and guide (the Holy Spirit) to follow in His footsteps.

So let us continue to draw near to God. Let us hold fast to the profession of our faith, let us consider others, and we will experience the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Remember He can, He will, and He has. “The battle is not yours but God’s”(2 Chronicles 20:15).

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