The Sky’s the Limit?
You’ve probably heard the phrase “The sky’s the limit,” right? It suggests that anything is possible and that there are no boundaries to what we can achieve. It’s a phrase meant to inspire and encourage.
The saying emerged around the early 1900s, possibly influenced by the invention of the airplane. Before that, could people even grasp the idea of soaring high above the earth? I bet that newfound freedom—seeing the world from above—gave the phrase its wings. The sky, once unreachable, became a symbol of ultimate potential.
But if you know me, you know I’ve often questioned that expression. If the sky is the limit… what happens when you can see the sky? Doesn’t that make it a boundary instead of something infinite? And if we believe in a God without limits, shouldn’t we aim for something far beyond what we can ever see?
Reexamining the Limits We Set
Growing up hearing “the sky’s the limit” sounded empowering—like, go out there and chase your dreams! But the more I thought about it, the more it started to feel… off. Because if the sky is the limit, doesn’t that mean that it is, in fact, a limit?
I think that’s why the song I Believe I Can Fly resonated so much with me in the ’90s. It wasn’t about stopping at the sky but soaring high above it. It made me feel like anything and everything was possible, no matter where I started or past failures.
And honestly? That’s the message we need more of nowadays.
But at 54, do I still see my life that way? Does it make sense to believe that? Honestly, I don’t know. It seems a little too optimistic. But I want to think that some of my goals are still attainable. Why? Again, I don’t know. But perhaps some disappointments in my life have shrunk my vision and caused me to view this pessimistically. What about you? Do you feel optimistic about your goals? And if you’re over 50, do you still think all your dreams and goals are possible?
The Message We Need at Midlife
Let’s go back to the song I Believe I Can Fly. I remember hearing it everywhere—at my son’s preschool graduation, youth events, school ceremonies—you couldn’t escape it. When I heard it repeatedly on the radio in the ’90s, I was in my 20s, and it made perfect sense. Kids were just starting out, full of big dreams and fresh possibilities. For me, there was still the illusion of having so much more life to live.
But even so, as a young mother, my world revolved around raising my son. My dreams? My ambitions? They quietly took a backseat. Without even realizing it, I was already setting limits on myself.
A decade later, I decided to work towards a dream I had put away. I wanted to finish my college education. When I flunked out in 1991, financially, I thought that was an unattainable goal, so I put it out of my mind for years. In my thirties, I decided to dip my toe in and enroll in two classes at a community college. But even then, I couldn’t shake the feeling that so much time had passed. I questioned whether it was too late, whether it would make any difference at all.
And now, decades later, I have to ask myself—am I still doing that?
What about those of us who have been through some things? The ones carrying bruises, regrets, and the weight of a life that didn’t turn out how we once imagined? Maybe we’re the ones who need that message now more than ever.
It’s easy to tell young people to believe they can fly and do anything when they haven’t faced real setbacks. But what happens when life has knocked you down a few times? When doors have closed, dreams have stalled, and the reality in front of you looks nothing like what you once hoped for, and you can’t even begin to imagine your dream coming to fruition.
That’s when we start accepting limits—sometimes without even realizing it. Maybe this is as good as it gets. Maybe I’ve missed my window. Maybe I’m too old to start over. I’ll just be grateful for what I have and how things are now. Sometimes, that seems like the best thing to do-the safe thing to do.
But what if we’re wrong?
Breaking Through the Limits We Accept
I want to use my journey with strength training as an example. When I first started a few years ago, I never imagined I’d be deadlifting 235 lbs, bench pressing 110 lbs, and squatting 145 lbs. Lifting that heavy was inconceivable to me—just like some of our dreams can feel at this stage in life.
But here’s what I’m learning: limits aren’t always real. Sometimes, they’re just checkpoints on the way to something greater.
When I first started lifting, I had no idea how strong I could become. I just kept showing up, pushing a little further each time, and one day, I looked back and realized I had shattered the limits I once believed in.
What if our dreams work the same way?
What if the things we’ve convinced ourselves are impossible are just the starting point for something bigger?
Faith: The Ultimate Limit Breaker
And isn’t that what God tells us about faith? That we don’t have to rely on our own strength alone! That His plans for us can go far beyond what we could ever see?
“Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen[the conviction of their reality-faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].” — Hebrews 11:1(AMP)
If I had stopped at the weight I first struggled with, I never would have realized how strong I would become. The same applies to our dreams, purpose, and faith journey. If we stop at the sky, we might miss God’s limitless possibilities for us.
I’ve learned that my faith in God is the way to help me push past every barrier I think is set in stone. The times I thought, I can’t do this; I don’t have it in me. Why am I even here? What made me think I could do this? Somehow, God showed me that He is always with me, and with Him, I am far more capable than I ever believed.
Maybe you’ve felt that way, too. Perhaps you’ve convinced yourself that you’ve gone as far as you can, that the time to dream big has passed. But what if it hasn’t? What if the very thing you’ve written off as impossible is just waiting for you to trust God with it?
Exercising faith isn’t about ignoring reality but seeing beyond it. It’s about trusting that even when you don’t have the details, even when you have no idea how—God does. He’s already gone ahead of you. He’s already working things out. And it’s often for your good and His glory.
Sometimes, we think we should accept what we see and settle for what seems reasonably possible. We let doubts creep in and let failure have the final word. But for those who believe in the possibilities, you may realize that the limits you saw weren’t real at all. They were just the places where you lost faith and stopped believing in our great God.
Faith breaks barriers, stretches beyond logic, and carries you further than your strength ever could. And when you stop putting your trust in yourself—when you stop basing things on age, past failures, and circumstances—you allow room for God to do the impossible.
So maybe the sky isn’t the limit after all.
Maybe it’s just the beginning.
So maybe—no matter our age—it’s time to believe again that we can fly.
I want to encourage to take a look at the prayer graphic above. Write down and reflect on your goals and dreams.What’s one dream you’ve set aside? This week, I challenge you to start by praying about it. Then, take one small step toward it—no matter how small. As you do, have faith and watch what God does!
