What Limits You?

Did you know that when a captive elephant is young, the circus elephant handler will place a shackle around its leg and tie it on a peg a few feet deep. Other handlers tie it on a tree. The baby elephant will try pulling away from the peg or tree to escape but not successful. Each day, as the baby elephant tries to pull away, its mind is conditioned that it can never escape. The elephant is too small to pull away. The elephant has been conditioned to think that it can never pull away and escape if its legs are tied. As the elephant becomes full grown, it does not even try to pull away anymore because it has been programmed to hopelessness. What is shocking is that there was a story about full grown elephant that died in a circus fire. Its leg was tied by a thin rope attached to a six inch peg! So conditioned to its limitations that it would not even try to escape.

Think for a few moments: Is it possible that a “shackle” of some kind is tied around your leg? What is it that holds you back from experiencing the freedom to grow into a really successful person or fulfilling your dreams? Because you have tried so many times before and you were told you are “no good” or amount to “nothing” and now you feel that there is no hope for you. It might seem like you are tied to an unmovable tree.

I like to challenge you to consider instead, that the “thing” that holds you might only be a small stick in the ground. Do you know that if you become comfortable with your captivity, you may be just like an elephant that was trained to believe it could not break free.

All of us can be susceptible to this limitation. The limitation itself is a mirage but works powerfully on those who have been programmed to hopelessness. What are these limitations? These are belief systems we accepted that are totally based on deception and lies. We all grew up with guilt and shame. We all have people who told us when we were young that we don’t amount to anything. It is unfortunate that we listened and believed what they said. I challenge you to examine yourself. Remember what the scripture says? “The truth shall set you free.” None of us should be in shackles. We have actually been freed already. We just have to see the truth and believe it.

According to the Apostle Paul, the truth is that, by our relationship with Christ, we have been freed. The fact is that the old shackle around your ankle can no longer hold you, if you recognize that you are a new creation and are no longer a “slave to sin.” While Christ can and has miraculously changed lives and immediately “set captives free” from habits and addictions, for most of us, old habits die hard. Just like that grown up elephant, we feel that we are still shackled and tied to a tree. In reality, we are free. Jesus Christ’s life, death and resurrection has made it possible. In Christ, your old self is gone, your spirit has been made alive, the new has come, and freedom is within your reach.

"For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin… In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus." — Romans 6:6, 11