God, How Can I Do This With You?

You’re standing at the base of a mountain. From there, you can see it’s definitely a bit taller than you expected…and you just stand there.

This is just a hypothetical situation, but we’ve all been through similar moments before. 

Maybe it was a project at work that turned out to be way larger than you expected.
Or a family situation that felt impossible to fix.
Or when God called you to something that felt way beyond your comfort zone.

Those moments where frustration boils over and we say, “I can’t do this.”

Your words shape your mindset.

‍Saying “I can’t” shuts the door before you’ve even tried to open it. 

So, what if, instead, you said, “How can I?”

That one question changes everything.

When you say “I can’t,” your brain shuts down. It stops searching for answers.

But when you ask, “How can I?”, your brain comes alive, and it starts looking for solutions.

God built you with problem-solving power.

That’s why Scripture says in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Not some things or the easy things. All things.

So when you’re facing that mountain, remember: you’re not climbing alone.

And what about failure?

Of course, you’ll have moments when you commit and give your best and still don’t get the results you were hoping for.

But don’t say, “I failed.”
Say, “I’ve discovered one way it doesn’t work.”

Thomas Edison said something similar when asked about his thousands of failed attempts at creating the lightbulb. “I didn’t fail,” he said. “I just found 10,000 ways that didn’t work.”
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Every step, every misstep, and every lesson is part of the journey forward.

And when life feels impossible, don’t say, “It can’t be done.”
Say, “It hasn’t been done by me yet.”

Yet. That’s the keyword that keeps hope alive and faith moving.

Faith reframes challenges.

So next time you’re standing at the base of your mountain, take a breath.

Instead of saying, “I can’t do this,” whisper a new question:

“God, how can I do this with You?”

Because the moment you change your words, you change your direction. And when you change your direction, you start to climb.