By Liyann Ooi
“I’m tired of being tired.” This line played on repeatedly in my head for days, then weeks, and months… I hit a breaking point—exhausted, questioning, and painfully aware of my limits. It wasn’t where I wanted to be, but over the span of 10 months, I realised this was where God began to teach me an important life lesson: my limits weren’t holding me back; they were setting me free.
1. My Limits
This journey began at a cell group retreat when I made the resolution to “Walk humbly before my God.” At the time, I didn’t fully understand how this would unfold, but over the next year, God gave me a masterclass in learning to “walk” (not run) and to do so humbly. Living with a chronic health condition forced me to confront my limits, especially when I longed to move faster, chase dreams, and seize opportunities. Slowing down wasn’t something I wanted on my to-do list; I wrestled with the guilt of “not getting things done”. As I confronted my limitations, I related deeply to Paul’s thorn in the flesh. Some nights, I thought to myself, “Surely I can do more for God if this thorn were removed.” But then I’d wonder, “What if I never chase my dreams and leave them sitting on the shelf?”
2. My Limits Free Me
“Do you view the (health) condition as a limitation or freedom?”, a friend asked. Burdened by a thorn I didn’t want, I replied bluntly “Is this a rhetorical question? Limitation.” Pain and struggle produced a prideful sense that no one understands; yet God has given us Himself, His word and each other to bring hope and comfort in suffering.
In Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup of suffering from me; yet not my will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42). In my own struggle, I was reminded to trust God’s plan over my own relief. When I reached the end of myself, “surrender” became my new rhythm; my limits freed me from relying on my own strength.
3. My Limits Free Me to Depend on God’s Limitless Love
I’ve come to see that “freedom” and “limitation” are neither binary nor opposites, but interdependent—a synergy that deepens my walk with God. Over time, I’ve internalised what it meant to seek Him “for” and “as” my daily bread. This experience sharpened my spiritual discernment, a skill honed through 321 Mentoring, helping me recognise His guidance in ways I may have otherwise missed.
As 2 Corinthians 12:9 reminds me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” My limits, in their synergy with God’s limitless love, has become a doorway to His power, freeing me to lean on His strength instead of my own.
I still have dreams to chase and opportunities to seize; but now, I write them in pencil and give the eraser to God—trusting that His plans are far greater than my own.
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