I would guess that 95% of us try to avoid stretching. When we come against something that is bigger than we are, we tend to back off. What keeps us from expanding? Why do we avoid these stretching experiences?

1. Fear - the unknown out there can really paralyze us.
2. Satisfied - why stretch? We already like where we are; we have it made.
3. Laziness - there are times we would rather take it easy.
4. Self-esteem - we just don't see ourselves in the proper light.
5. Ordinary - some of us just don't like to be different.

If you stretch, you're no longer ordinary. To stretch is to be out of sync with many our friends and associates. I would encourage you to take a moment to evaluate yourself. Ask yourself why is it that you're not always stretching.

Source: John C. Maxwell, Be All You Can Be!

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. - 2 Corinthians 4:7-9