In 1954, Roger Bannister became the first person on record to run a mile in less than four minutes.  But for almost ten years before his run, the four minute mile was considered impossible.  Sports commentators and enthusiasts alike had settled on the idea that the human body was not capable of breaking the four minute barrier, and runners apparently started believing it too.

For years, the record held ominously at four minutes and one second.  Then, finally, Roger Bannister ran four miles in 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds.  It was a landmark achievement.

Then, six weeks later, another runner broke Bannister’s record, running the mile in 3:57.9, and about a year later, three other runners ran sub-four-minute miles as well.

The lesson to be learned here (and I’m certainly not the first to point it out) is that when the prevailing theory is that something can’t be done, we don’t tend to push ourselves to achieve it.  Once someone else accomplishes that previously “impossible” goal, then we push ourselves to do the same.

[bctt tweet=”Why do we wait for other people to deem something possible before we are willing to attempt it?”]

While the sports commentators were saying that running the mile in less than four minutes was impossible, the entire running community of the US couldn’t seem to prove their theory wrong.  After one man proved it could be done, several individuals started running the mile with numbers well under four minutes.  In fact, high school runners have now beaten the four minute time.

The question is, then, what would you like to accomplish that you don’t think you can, simply because “they” say it can’t be done?  Break through success always shatters the expectations of the watching world… that’s what makes it a break through.  It’s important not to let the people around you dictate what you should expect from yourself.  In some cases, they will expect far too much, and in others, far too little.

[bctt tweet=”Break through success always surprises the watching world… that’s what makes it a break through.”]

Break through success always shatters the expectations of the watching world… that’s what makes it a break through.

The truth is, no one around me knows what I am capable of accomplishing.  But interestingly, I don’t either.  Only God truly knows what I am capable of.  Additionally, the scriptures tell me that God is very interested in accomplishing things through me, which means that I actually have the capacity to do things that completely outclass my own capabilities, but are not at all to difficult for God.

Philippians 4:13 (NLT)
13 For I can do everything through Christ,* who gives me strength.

Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

I’m not encouraging you to set goals as though you were unlimited… that would be extremely unrealistic.  And I’m not encouraging you to do something that is unsafe or unwise.  Obviously, some things are truly not possible or dangerous to attempt.  I would never suggest you try something like that.  This post has more to do with how you set goals for your future.  What I am suggesting is that you set those goals with the understanding that you serve a God that is unlimited.  What if God wants to help you achieve something that the rest of the watching world doesn’t think possible?

You have more potential than you or anyone around you recognizes.  Ask God to put it to work… and then go out there and shatter your own four-minute barrier.