Written by: Natalie Yeo (Photo by: Aaron Tan)
What do you do with that nagging voice that discourages you even before you try?
Have you ever felt crippled by the voices in your head? A prominent voice that constantly echoes in my mind is none other than “I can’t,” often gripping my heart with fear and paralysing me in a wheelchair of unbelief and distrust. This voice rang the loudest where my academics were concerned: I failed Mathematics from Primary 4 to Secondary 4, only managing to pass one (easy) common test in Primary 5. Yes, I failed Math at both PSLE and the O Levels.
As life waned on, I entered a private university and was required to take two Junior College-level Math modules for a year. At that point, I was mounted with a mammoth challenge as in order to gain acceptance into university, I could not fail any of these modules. There was no margin for error. How was I to pass a subject I had failed for years?
Maybe you are able to identify with me, as you fight the voice of “I can’t” in your daily situations — forgiving or apologising to your mom, showing love to a friend whom you’ve grown distant from, or speaking up for wrongs that need to be made right — and you too are riddled with the question on how to overcome it.
However, through my struggles with Math, I learnt a valuable lesson: If I fix my eyes on defeat, I will never be able to see God’s grace and victory. On the other hand, with my eyes fixed on Jesus, I will see what He can do, rather than what I cannot do.
This led me to wonder: how then can the voice of “I can” become a constant in my life?
#1. Identify all other voices.
Each time I heard the voice of “I can’t” badger me to give up on a seemingly unsolvable Math question, I would pause and question whose voice was speaking to me. Most times, I found myself hearing either of these three voices:
Voice of Satan: This voice often creeps up with intentions to ensnare us into the clutches of guilt, shame and deceit. It causes one to doubt his or herself and the goodness of God, slipping into compromise and procrastination.
I often fell in submission to the many lies that convinced me that I could not solve one more Math question. Once I bought into the lie, this voice tried to make me waver even more, telling me, “God doesn’t love you. If He did, why would He put you through this?” At that moment, I knew exactly who was talking to me and it surely wasn’t God.
Voice of the World: This voice always seeks to lure us away from what that truly matters. It is distracting, diverting and often carries unhealthy, worldly expectations upon ourselves.
In university, I was often stressed and weighed down by the voices of the world which reminded me unstoppably that I had no other choice but strive to pass my Math examinations. These unhealthy expectations turned my gaze away from God and I soon found myself in a mode of self-reliance.
Voice of God: This is the voice of truth — firm, authoritative, encouraging, sometimes quiet, but mostly enclosed in love, just as a Father would speak to His child.
Do you believe what the Bible says is true? In John 1:1, it says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The Word is God! Remember:
When fear is wrapped in an “I can’t,” He says, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand. (Isaiah 41:10) My perfect love casts out all fear.” (1 John 4:18)
When inadequacy says “I can’t,” God says, “(You) can do all things through Christ who strengthens (you).” (Philippians 4:13)
When faithlessness says “I can’t,” God says, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)
When hopelessness magnifies the voice that says “I can’t,” God says, “(You) have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” (Hebrews 6:19)
Regardless of situation or circumstance, would you tune in and listen to His voice today? It might seem impossible at first, but fine-tuning ourselves to the right frequency to hear His voice will become easier and easier as we persevere in fostering our spirits to drown out the voices of the world and the evil one.
#2. Decide which voice you will listen to.
Upon failing Math from Primary 4, my relationship with my father began to experience strain. I struggled with his consistent comparisons to my peers and my elder brother; I battled the thought that my own father did not believe in me, even when I gave my best. Unforgiveness and anger rankled my heart and fear accompanied me whenever I approached him to sign my report card.
At a church youth camp in 2002, my youth pastor sensed strongly that some of us needed to release forgiveness to our parents. Knowing I was one of them, “I can’t” resounded in my heart and negative memories stained my eyes. However, as the Holy Spirit gently encouraged me in tender love, as if He clasped my naked heart, I plucked up my courage and called my father. I remember the fear that made me quiver inside, but more importantly, the freedom from unforgiveness and anger when I said these three words to him: “I love you.”
That fateful evening, I learnt the power of an intentional decision to choose obedience instead of resistance. Hence, when God counters the devil’s voice of “I can’t” with “I can,” would you choose to obey and believe that with Him in you, you unwaveringly can?
As I reflected on the life of Christ, I truly cannot imagine what would have become of the human race if Jesus had said, “I can’t,” when He stared death in the eye at the cross. It humbles and encourages me to know that Jesus knew He could endure the cross, because His Father said so.
Even though everything in you right now is screaming “I can’t,” hone in on the still voice that tells you, “God can.” You have been empowered to say “I can,” because your Father says He can! You can, my courageous friend.
EY
10 August
Thank you for this, very much