That was me, not so very long ago, that was me. I sat and whined that it was too hard. I couldn't do it, when really, I just didn't want to do it. Yeah, it hurts to do it, but letting that stop me is... stupid. Life is hard... Life hurts... Life takes sacrifices, and hard choices, and effort to live it well.
Every morning I wake up with the choice: Am I going to do my best, or am I going to make excuses?
Sure, I have issues, but they are to be something to make me stronger, not to hold me down.
I struggled for years with honestly thinking I would never amount to anything more than a pillow on a couch. I hurt, and I gave into that pain, and added self-pity on top of it. I was a mess, and I had to choose not to be a mess to be able to change.
It was not as easy as flipping a switch. For one reason, I didn't even realize what I was doing. It did not occur to me that I was making the excuses, the choice to not do. When I thought I was getting help the first time, I was really just getting fed more excuses to use, and I didn't seem to mind that at all. It wasn't until someone made my excuses invalid that I was able to see that I did not want to be that way.
God wants my best. He wants me to serve with my whole heart, mind, and soul. The devil is happy to provide "reasons" not to. Reasons are almost always excuses.
Lets look at the word "excuse" for a minute.
: to forgive someone for making a mistake, doing something wrong, etc.,
: to say that (someone) is not required to do something.
: to allow (someone, such as a child) to leave.
When we make excuses for ourselves, we are using the first listed definition. We are forgiving ourselves for doing wrong, which is not something we have the authority to do. Only God has the power to forgive sins. We like to make ourselves into Gods. We get to heaven by our own good works, we take control of our own lives, we want to choose our own death. These things are not in our control, only God has the power and authority over these things.
The excuses we make are lies to God, and to ourselves. I saw a church sign awhile back that said "If you are called of God, God has made you capable." Those that are His children are called unto holiness, you are capable of it through Him, don't make excuses.
