Silly Ceilings
Break Through or Be Through
We've all heard the phrase "hitting the ceiling," but what does that ceiling really represent? In life, a ceiling can be a limitation, an obstacle that seems to cap our potential. But it can also mark the peak of opportunity—something that challenges us to press higher, grow stronger, and discover God's favor in new ways.
Ceilings don't just hold us back; they give us a chance to prove what God can do through us when we press against those limits.
To limit something is to bind it, to restrain it, or to confine it. It means telling yourself, "This is as far as I can go," or "This is all I am capable of." While some of our ceilings are valid, set in place to guide or protect us, others are what we might call "silly ceilings"—self-imposed limits that hold no real power but still, keep us stuck, stalled, and stifled.
Conditioned Limitations: The Flea Experiment
There's a story that captures this concept well. In an experiment, a scientist placed several fleas in a glass jar. Naturally, the fleas jumped right out. However, when he put them back in the jar and covered them with a glass lid, the fleas continued to jump but now hit the glass ceiling and fell back down. Over time, they stopped jumping high enough to hit the lid, learning to jump just shy of the barrier. Eventually, the scientist removed the glass lid, but by then, it wasn't necessary—the fleas had conditioned themselves to stay below that height. Even though the barrier was gone, the fleas believed they couldn't go any higher.
Like these fleas, we sometimes allow ourselves to live under ceilings that are no longer in place or perhaps were never real at all. We've conditioned ourselves to "jump just enough" to avoid an imagined failure or disappointment. But when we limit ourselves to a standard we were never meant to stay under, we shortchange both our potential and God's purpose in us.
Realizing Strength Through God
The Bible reminds us that we don't live by our own power. In Philippians 4:13, the Apostle Paul declares,
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Paul had his share of challenges, obstacles, and even literal walls and chains. Yet he understood a fundamental truth: any ceiling could be shattered when God's power was at work. Paul didn't deny his struggles, but he also didn't allow them to limit what God could do through him. His message is clear:
When we lean into God's strength, we move beyond our own boundaries and limitations.
Why Breaking Silly Ceilings Matters
We sometimes face insurmountable challenges—ceilings in relationships, careers, or personal growth. But here's the thing: God doesn't call us to a life bound by what we think is possible. He calls us to live by faith, to keep our eyes fixed on Him, and to experience the heights He can take us to.
The problem with silly ceilings is that they distract us from our potential and stunt our growth in the spiritual. They're subtle but dangerous, convincing us to live in a place far below what God has for us. When we settle for less, we limit our capacity to serve, love, and grow. When we stop trying, we stop thriving. The ceiling becomes the end of the line. But when we refuse to accept these limits and instead choose to rise above, we give God room to work in miraculous ways.
A Call to Break Through
Today, consider what ceilings you might be living under. Are they actual boundaries meant to guide you, or are they simply "silly ceilings"—self-imposed limits that God never intended for you? Ask yourself:
"Am I bound by something that isn't really there?"
With God, you have the strength to break through any ceiling. So, the next time you find yourself bumping your head on the silly side of the impossible, remember that you can do all things through Christ. Push against and eventually through those silly ceilings. God has set no limits on what He can do in and through a human being—so why should you?