Release the Limitations
BY MIA K. WRIGHT
On an ordinary night, there was a knock at her door. She regularly received visits at all hours. It was her business—discreetly answering the door and letting men inside. There wasn't anything unusual about this moment, until she realized who the two men were. What happened next changed her life.
Rahab was a prostitute. On several occasions, the Bible reminds us of her profession. Both Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25 refer to her as “harlot Rahab” and “Rahab the harlot.” To some, her past couldn’t be forgotten.
Perhaps you can relate to Rahab’s story. Maybe there’s a label assocated with your name, and that label has limited your view of your potential. People often remember the bad part of our history, and some give us nicknames or titles that are hard to escape. However, on one particular night, Rahab opened the door and helped Joshua’s spies. The king of Jericho sent soldiers to capture the men, but Rahab hid them and sent the soldiers in a different direction. That decision turned “Rahab the harlot” into one of the greatest heroines of the Bible.
In the New Testament, Rahab is called “mother” and a woman of “faith.” How did a prostitute with a sullied reputation become the great-great-grandmother of King David—and an ancestor of Jesus Christ? Rahab’s story illuminates the power of faith.
She Believed and Acted
When the king’s soldiers were gone, Rahab told Joshua’s spies that she heard about the Israelites and their God. “I know the Lord has given you this land,” she told them. “For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.” Rahab believed what she heard! A time may come when you’re faced with a decision that can change the trajectory of your life. In that moment, you must believe what the Bible says about God: He is your provider; He is your protector; and He has all power. Proverbs 3:5-6 instructs, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Because Rahab truly believed in God, she took action and hid Joshua’s spies. Her faith changed her life, saved her family, and transformed her reputation.
Her Faith Got God’s Attention
Hebrews 11:31 states, “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe.” There’s something remarkable about faith. It gets God’s attention! It happened with Rahab; it happened with the Roman centurion (Matthew 8:5-13); and it happened with the woman with the “issue of blood” (Matthew 8:43-48). Although people label, nickname, and look at our past, God responds to our faith. In fact, without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
Therefore, today—right where you are—release your limitations. Believe what the Bible says about you! You are loved. You are forgiven. You have a bright future. 
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NO MORE LIMITATIONS
The heroes and heroines of the Bible highlight an interesting pattern: people who experienced the extraordinary did unordinary things. In Unthinkable, Mia Wright empowers readers to push beyond their limitations and embrace the future that God has waiting for them.
