Beyond Capacity: Rethinking Limits in Light of Christ

I've been hearing a phrase a lot lately: "I'm at capacity." And I get it. Life is full. Between work, family, ministry, sports, and just trying to keep your head above water, there are days when it feels like you're stretched to the limit. But here’s what’s been stirring in me: I don’t think this phrase is helping us. Especially not in ministry. Especially not in something like FCA, where we’re called to give our lives to the mission of reaching every coach and athlete with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

When did we start believing that our capacity is the ceiling of our calling? 

Sure, we are human. We have limits. We need sleep. We need rest. Jesus Himself modeled that. But if we stop there, we’re missing something huge. Scripture never calls us to stay within the bounds of our comfort or capacity. It calls us to surrender. To sacrifice. To pour it all out for the sake of Christ. 

Let me be clear - this isn’t a guilt trip. And it’s not coming from someone who’s figured it out. I wrestle with this too. I’ve said, “I’m at capacity.” I’ve pulled back when I felt stretched. I’ve chosen convenience over calling more times than I’d like to admit. But what the Lord keeps showing me is that my threshold isn't the measure - His presence is. 

Christ Is Our Capacity 

Paul gives us a powerful example in Colossians 1:29: “I labor for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me.” Paul’s calling was enormous: spreading the Gospel, planting churches, suffering deeply along the way. But he didn’t lean on his own ability. He pressed forward not because he had the energy, but because Christ's strength was powerfully working within him. 

This is not about ignoring healthy rhythms of rest - it’s about where we turn when we're called beyond what we think we can handle. The call to serve and lead in ministry - whether it's leading a Huddle, coaching a team, hosting a Bible study, or just showing up to love people consistently - isn't supposed to be convenient. It's supposed to be Spirit - empowered. 

Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). So, when we say, "I'm at capacity," maybe what we really mean is, "I'm at the end of my strength." And that might be the best place to begin. Because if Christ is our capacity, then the better question is: What is He asking me to do, and will I trust Him to carry me through it? 

The Danger of a "Capacity" Mindset 

Let’s be honest - it’s easy to start measuring our obedience based on margin. And that might sound responsible, even mature. But over time, it can subtly shift from wisdom to avoidance. The disciples could have said the same thing when Jesus asked them to feed 5,000 with five loaves and two fish. But He wasn’t asking them to operate from their capacity. He was asking them to offer what they had and trust Him to multiply it. 

Boundaries are wise. But boundaries should serve obedience, not replace it. There’s a difference between being Spirit-led and being schedule - driven. If we let “capacity” become our filter, we’ll say no to things God is inviting us into. And when that happens, the body of Christ misses out on what God might do through us. 

Jesus never promised ministry would be manageable. He promised it would be fruitful (John 15:8). And the fruit comes through abiding, not retreating. 

So What Are We Called To? 

Romans 12:1 urges us to present our bodies as living sacrifices - holy and pleasing to God. That’s not symbolic. That’s daily. Sacrificial. Real. Luke 9:23 echoes the same when Jesus says, “If anyone wants to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” 

And Paul, near the end of his life, says in 2 Timothy 4:6, “I am already being poured out as a drink offering.” That’s a life lived beyond comfort, beyond convenience - beyond capacity. 

This is the kind of life Jesus invites us into. It’s the kind of life the FCA mission invites us into. It’s not about having extra margin - it’s about having a mindset of surrender. It’s about ordinary people trusting an extraordinary God to do something eternal through their yes. 

A Personal Window 

I can’t speak about this as someone who has figured it out. I’m very much in it. Just recently, I found myself overwhelmed with the weight of trying to shepherd eight prospective FCA staff members - each with their own story, their own needs, and their own journey. I wanted to invest in them, care for them, and help launch them into ministry in the right way. Meanwhile, I was still responsible for leading our current team, stewarding the vision, and raising significant funds for the Battlefield FCA area. 

We were preparing for the Victory Dinner - a crucial night for our staff’s support and our ministry’s momentum - and every detail felt urgent. 

And yet, I still felt convicted to guard my early morning hours with the Lord: three to four hours each day in prayer, Scripture, and simply being present with Christ. It wasn’t the efficient choice. It didn’t look productive on paper. But it was the only thing that grounded me. 

All while walking through the heartache of seeing two of my daughter’s drift spiritually, praying and hoping for their return. All while learning how to better love and serve my wife - 34 years into marriage and still growing. All while stepping into a new role of helping care for my father as he battles dementia, walking alongside my mother and sisters to honor him with dignity and love. 

Did I feel "at capacity"? Absolutely. But what the Lord keeps teaching me is this: my strength was never meant to be the fuel. My capacity is not the determining factor - His presence is. His grace doesn’t always lighten the load. Sometimes, it simply lifts the heart. 

Colossians 1:29 continues to echo in my heart: "I labor for this, striving with His strength that works powerfully in me." That kind of striving isn’t a frantic hustle - it’s a Spirit - empowered effort that goes beyond what human strength can sustain. 

And I’ve been reflecting deeply on 1 Thessalonians 1:3 - 5, where Paul commends the believers for their "work produced by faith, labor motivated by love, and endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." That phrase has stayed with me: endurance inspired by hope. Our strength isn’t rooted in our own performance - but in being chosen by God and empowered through the Holy Spirit. That’s the only way I’m still standing. 

These verses don’t erase the hard - but they anchor me in the truth that my capacity is not about me. 

A Better Way Forward 

Before you move on, consider asking yourself a couple of hard but holy questions: 

• Am I making decisions based on personal comfort - or on Christ's call? 
• Where have I allowed emotional exhaustion to masquerade as spiritual surrender? 
• Is there a place where "I’m at capacity" became an excuse, and God is still inviting me to trust Him deeper? 

This isn’t a call to run harder. It’s a call to live deeper. It’s about being led by the Spirit, not boxed in by fear. It’s about trusting that the God who called you will also sustain you. 

Maybe it’s time we stop asking, "How much can I handle?" and start asking, "What is Christ calling me to do?" 

Because if Jesus is calling you to it, He’ll give you the grace and strength to do it. 

So go ahead. Say yes. Show up. Serve. Lead. Not because you have the margin, but because you have the Messiah. 

Your capacity isn’t the limit. Christ is the source. 

Here’s how you can jump in:

·     Volunteer with Battlefield FCA – Help us disciple the next generation.

·     Become a Monthly Supporter – Fuel the mission that’s changing lives.

·     Pray with us – Identity in Christ is spiritual warfare. We need covering.