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The Good News of Our Limits: Find Greater Peace, Joy, and Effectiveness through God’s Gift of Inadequacy
Become More Effective by Embracing Your Inability Many of us are tired, stressed, and overworked. We think that following God will bring peace, but instead find ourselves anxious. We expect a life of joy, but end up feeling stressed, living under the heavy load of new expectations. It's a spiritual and emotional rollercoaster. We search for solutions using optimization techniques, attempting to fit more and more into our already full days. We try to craft efficiently maximized lives, but these methods always fail, not because they are ill-intentioned, but because they do not go far enough. They fail to understand how God made us--as people with inherent limitations--and they fail to accept that as good . In The Good News of Our Limits , professor and longtime ministry leader Sean McGever reveals the wonderful news that we cannot do, be, or know all of the things that others expect of us--and that we often expect from ourselves. Nor should we. As it turns out, these expectations are not God's expectations. The freeing truth is that God created us with limitations, and he did it for a reason. God is the only all-powerful, all-present, and all-knowing person, and we are not. We can only know and do some things, and we can only be in one place at a time. And that is enough. Accepting this truth frees us to find greater peace and joy, and somewhat surprisingly, greater effectiveness in life. The Good News of Our Limits helps readers answer questions Through personal stories and fascinating cultural insights, The Good News of Our Limits calls readers to embrace the blessedness of their limitations and adopt a few key practices to better balance their lives. Biblical and practical, it points to a better way forward for us all.
- GenresChristianNonfiction
192 pages, Paperback
Published February 8, 2022
4 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Sean McGever
13 books10 followersSean McGever (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is an Area Director for Young Life in Phoenix, Arizona, and an adjunct faculty at Grand Canyon University. He speaks, teaches, and ministers across the United States, Canada, and the UK.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 30, 2022
Thank you for allowing me early access to this book, Sean! As the title claims, I did find greater peace after reading about my human limitations. The Good News of Our Limits includes charming anecdotes of Sean's life, clear succinct messages about our human limitations, and a lot of scripture references. Sean uses the perfect example of Jesus to remind Christians that while we are human, we are NOT Jesus.
I found the chapter about relationships the most helpful. This passage in particular really stuck out to me, "One of the main challenges of friendship is that our commitment level changes over time. Someone who was once a close friend might now be a distant friend. I have learned to let go of trying to maintain my commitment level to my friends. I used to feel guilty about this. Now I feel that letting go of friendships is a confession of faith. I recognize that God made me incapable of maintaining deep friendships with everyone forever." This resonates with me as I've basically been in school my entire life, and have made really close friendships along the way, but have had to let a lot of them fade as we all move on to different stages of life after school.
Sean also discusses how we are limited in our capacity to absorb information. Another quote I found very powerful, "If we don't preselect the sources of information we want to let form us, they will be preselected for us." Ain't that the truth, algorithms?!
5 stars for really clear and helpful explanations of the trinity, practical ways to manage friendships, vulnerability from Sean, an abundance of scripture, and tons of helpful quotes and passages that I will now have forever on my kindle! :)
Also! This gem: "humans have more in common with a head of lettuce than with God." Amen.
I found the chapter about relationships the most helpful. This passage in particular really stuck out to me, "One of the main challenges of friendship is that our commitment level changes over time. Someone who was once a close friend might now be a distant friend. I have learned to let go of trying to maintain my commitment level to my friends. I used to feel guilty about this. Now I feel that letting go of friendships is a confession of faith. I recognize that God made me incapable of maintaining deep friendships with everyone forever." This resonates with me as I've basically been in school my entire life, and have made really close friendships along the way, but have had to let a lot of them fade as we all move on to different stages of life after school.
Sean also discusses how we are limited in our capacity to absorb information. Another quote I found very powerful, "If we don't preselect the sources of information we want to let form us, they will be preselected for us." Ain't that the truth, algorithms?!
5 stars for really clear and helpful explanations of the trinity, practical ways to manage friendships, vulnerability from Sean, an abundance of scripture, and tons of helpful quotes and passages that I will now have forever on my kindle! :)
Also! This gem: "humans have more in common with a head of lettuce than with God." Amen.
February 20, 2022
Thank God for hopeful reminders like this one, that our limitations are intentional and by design, and if we live into that truth, God becomes even bigger.
February 12, 2022
This was such a great read! The book was thoughtful & relational and was an easy read. Sean uses relational stories to highlight his points throughout the book. I highly recommend that any reader pick up this book and go on a journey with Sean about respecting our limits & boundaries. It is an encouraging read that puts things into perspective and helps focus on what is important.
January 2, 2026
Loved this book. Great perspective on our limits as humans & a lot to reflect on!!
March 1, 2025
Such a good reminder that we are not meant to do everything for everyone all the time. To be human is to have limits. When we embrace our limits, we get to find greater peace and joy in this life. I have been weighed down by the pressure of being everything for everyone and this book was truly a gift; it gave me the freedom to say no to things that God hasn’t called me to and to give my life to the things He has. Will recommend this book to the people pleasers who constantly feel the need to be everything for everyone, it’s not the way we were meant to live.
June 9, 2022
I am not good at embracing my limits. This was an excellent reminder about why I should and how this ties to spiritual health and wellbeing. I listened to this as an audiobook and when I finished, went back and started it again. New mantra: Limits are good. Slow down and embrace them.
February 10, 2022
Have read and reread an advance copy of The Good News of Our Limits, by Sean McGever. I loved it, as it touched me, made me think and reflect, and challenged me to make some changes in my life.
It helped me and it's for you if:
*You see your failures of not doing or being enough
*You are overwhelmed by the "information" assaulting your life
*Your friendships are muddled, and you don't know how to prioritize or let go of friendships
*You see and focus on personal desires, and miss what God does through collaboration with Himself and with others, especially His church
*Your short term goals are too big to achieve, and your long term goals are not beyond your personal reach (so only God can achieve them!)
It helped me and it's for you if:
*You see your failures of not doing or being enough
*You are overwhelmed by the "information" assaulting your life
*Your friendships are muddled, and you don't know how to prioritize or let go of friendships
*You see and focus on personal desires, and miss what God does through collaboration with Himself and with others, especially His church
*Your short term goals are too big to achieve, and your long term goals are not beyond your personal reach (so only God can achieve them!)
February 21, 2022
I’m no Enneagram enthusiast. I’m not different than most people though, I enjoy personality tests. I think they can be helpful. They have some value. Still, I’m not making critical life decisions based on my enneagram number or my Myers-Briggs results or anything like that. Having said that… I’m an Enneagram 3: I’m an achiever. One of my highest scores on Strengthfinder is: Achiever. When the next big personality comes onto the scene I’m sure I’ll get some variation of an achiever again. Basically, I’m an achiever.
My “achiever” personality has been beneficial in some ways but it’s also caused a lot of stress and anxiety. There’s nothing more frustrating to me than not accomplishing what I know I’m truly capable of. COVID has highlighted that in brand new ways for me. There’s so much I’ve wanted to achieve in this season but life keeps getting in the way! Life has introduced all kinds of limitations upon me. Life has placed limits on my (perceived) ability to achieve. And it’s frustrating.
Because of that I’m thankful for Sean McGever’s recent book: The Good News of Our Limits. Sean is a friend and we’ve talked about limits quite a bit over the years. I don’t know his personality test types but I’d venture to say he’s an achiever too. So if he can learn to operate within his God-given limits then maybe I can too.
The Good News of Our Limits is immensely practical. I could see myself walking through this book with a small group at my church. But it is also grounded in some solid theology. He doesn’t use the term in his book but it really is a work of Christological Anthropology. Sean operates out of the conviction that Jesus reveals to us what it means to be truly human. As he explains (25): Jesus was tempted, slept, got hungry, was thirsty, got tired, slept, cried, slept, bled, had a physical body…. He was like us in every way except for sin. In his human nature Christ had limits. We have limits and that is okay! To act and live as though we don’t have limits is to overstep our metaphysical makeup.
Sean explains that way have relational limits, cognitive limits, vocational limits…. And that is okay!
To know that we don’t need to achieve to attain God’s love is so freeing! Sean draws upon his years of ministry and educational experiences to make this point. You’ll get plenty of stories, solid biblical teaching, and practical advice in this book.
My “achiever” personality has been beneficial in some ways but it’s also caused a lot of stress and anxiety. There’s nothing more frustrating to me than not accomplishing what I know I’m truly capable of. COVID has highlighted that in brand new ways for me. There’s so much I’ve wanted to achieve in this season but life keeps getting in the way! Life has introduced all kinds of limitations upon me. Life has placed limits on my (perceived) ability to achieve. And it’s frustrating.
Because of that I’m thankful for Sean McGever’s recent book: The Good News of Our Limits. Sean is a friend and we’ve talked about limits quite a bit over the years. I don’t know his personality test types but I’d venture to say he’s an achiever too. So if he can learn to operate within his God-given limits then maybe I can too.
The Good News of Our Limits is immensely practical. I could see myself walking through this book with a small group at my church. But it is also grounded in some solid theology. He doesn’t use the term in his book but it really is a work of Christological Anthropology. Sean operates out of the conviction that Jesus reveals to us what it means to be truly human. As he explains (25): Jesus was tempted, slept, got hungry, was thirsty, got tired, slept, cried, slept, bled, had a physical body…. He was like us in every way except for sin. In his human nature Christ had limits. We have limits and that is okay! To act and live as though we don’t have limits is to overstep our metaphysical makeup.
Sean explains that way have relational limits, cognitive limits, vocational limits…. And that is okay!
To know that we don’t need to achieve to attain God’s love is so freeing! Sean draws upon his years of ministry and educational experiences to make this point. You’ll get plenty of stories, solid biblical teaching, and practical advice in this book.
June 22, 2023
A book I’ll likely come back to throughout different seasons of my life.
February 7, 2022
In Sean McGever's book The Good News of Our Limits we are encouraged and invited to embrace and accept our limits and humanity. In accepting and embracing these limits it can help us to live healthier and a less stressful life and point to how much we trust God. I struggled with the first few chapters getting started and into the book. I was distracted by the stories and examples in the beginning of the book and found my mind wandering. I found myself looking for a little more substance in the first chapters but I continued reading and the book picked up in the middle and end chapters. The first chapters show us where we are limited as humans in comparison to God. Then Sean discusses our limits such as faithful practices, circles of friends, and information. In these chapters the author gives ways that we can make better decisions and use of our limits in our relationship and service for God and His Kingdom. The last chapters discuss how we have a partnership with God, participate in His Kingdom plans, and cooperate as the Church to accomplish these plans. The very last chapter discuss staying in our own lane and fulfilling our particular role. This book is easy to read and I did find it to be enjoyable and informative even after my initial struggle to get interested and focused on the material. I recommend this book to everyone as a source of understanding our limits, finding our purpose, and using our limits to fulfill our purpose. I received an advanced copy of this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
February 8, 2022
The Good News of Our Limits by Sean McGever is a message about human limitation and how it connects to who God has shaped us to be.
As a young adult that has just graduated from university, I have experienced a combination of emotions. Of course, I am thrilled to have conquered college! However, I also felt like I was behind my peers. The people I know moved on so quickly with their lives, traveled, and went far away. It hurt to think that I should have done more to prepare myself for adulthood. As this book mentions, I was playing the comparison game, which did nothing to help me.
This book came to me at a perfect time in my life to guide me through my struggles of feeling inadequate. It taught me about my physical and mental limits, focusing on the present where God has placed me, and how I cannot know everything information-wise, even regarding the Bible. Additionally, it reminded me of how easy it is to believe you are a failure in today’s world when you don’t consider these things. God created us with these limits. As humans, we can sometimes perceive them to be cruel, but we must recognize that they are beneficial to understanding the people that we are meant to be and provide us with tranquility during the trials of our lives.
This book has guided me in reframing my thoughts on my chronic self-doubt and unrealistic view of myself. I recommend it to everyone who wants to navigate their Christian identity and grow spiritually through an uncommon expression of worship.
As a young adult that has just graduated from university, I have experienced a combination of emotions. Of course, I am thrilled to have conquered college! However, I also felt like I was behind my peers. The people I know moved on so quickly with their lives, traveled, and went far away. It hurt to think that I should have done more to prepare myself for adulthood. As this book mentions, I was playing the comparison game, which did nothing to help me.
This book came to me at a perfect time in my life to guide me through my struggles of feeling inadequate. It taught me about my physical and mental limits, focusing on the present where God has placed me, and how I cannot know everything information-wise, even regarding the Bible. Additionally, it reminded me of how easy it is to believe you are a failure in today’s world when you don’t consider these things. God created us with these limits. As humans, we can sometimes perceive them to be cruel, but we must recognize that they are beneficial to understanding the people that we are meant to be and provide us with tranquility during the trials of our lives.
This book has guided me in reframing my thoughts on my chronic self-doubt and unrealistic view of myself. I recommend it to everyone who wants to navigate their Christian identity and grow spiritually through an uncommon expression of worship.
February 15, 2022
In The Good News of Our Limits, McGever works from a theological core - God is creator and we are creature. This theological truth is the source of practical insights that follow . Recognizing that we are finite liberates us from trying to do God’s job.
The book has three core ‘limit’ areas where practical advice is offered. The first area has to do with goal setting - teaching us to set goals related to being faithful (what we can do) vs outcome (God’s part). The second has to do with recognizing limits with our ever shifting friend circles. The third addresses limits related to the age we live in where we need technology to work for us - not the other way around.
This book is not just about limits. Even though we are creatures, we are united to our limitless creator who does beyond what we can ask or imagine. Not only are we united to Christ, we are also united to a body of believers - the church.
Throughout the book there’s a ‘between the lines’ primer on Trinitarian theology that’s practical and accessible. In addition to the theology aspect, there are plenty of scriptural insights. The books message is expressed through enjoyable story telling and a kaleidoscope of cultural references.
The book has three core ‘limit’ areas where practical advice is offered. The first area has to do with goal setting - teaching us to set goals related to being faithful (what we can do) vs outcome (God’s part). The second has to do with recognizing limits with our ever shifting friend circles. The third addresses limits related to the age we live in where we need technology to work for us - not the other way around.
This book is not just about limits. Even though we are creatures, we are united to our limitless creator who does beyond what we can ask or imagine. Not only are we united to Christ, we are also united to a body of believers - the church.
Throughout the book there’s a ‘between the lines’ primer on Trinitarian theology that’s practical and accessible. In addition to the theology aspect, there are plenty of scriptural insights. The books message is expressed through enjoyable story telling and a kaleidoscope of cultural references.
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February 8, 2022This book arrived in my life at just the right time. I often feel overwhelmed by the expectations I place on myself to perform and produce and McGever's work provided me with a helpful corrective and reminder that Jesus calls us to remain faithful within our limits, and to see these limitations as a gift.
I was especially struck by the author's section on the difference between 'God goals' and 'Faithfulness goals'.
He states: "We need to separate "God goals' from 'Faithfulness goals.' The simple difference between God goals and faithfulness goals comes from the different capacities of God and humans. God goals are things that only God can do. Faithfulness goals are things that we can do and God will use." (pg 70)
I also really appreciate his work on limitations within friendship. His exposition on 'Dunbar's Number' provided me with practical diagnostic tools and that are helping me set healthy expectations for myself in regard to my relationships.
This was a fun and engaging read. I highly recommend.
I was especially struck by the author's section on the difference between 'God goals' and 'Faithfulness goals'.
He states: "We need to separate "God goals' from 'Faithfulness goals.' The simple difference between God goals and faithfulness goals comes from the different capacities of God and humans. God goals are things that only God can do. Faithfulness goals are things that we can do and God will use." (pg 70)
I also really appreciate his work on limitations within friendship. His exposition on 'Dunbar's Number' provided me with practical diagnostic tools and that are helping me set healthy expectations for myself in regard to my relationships.
This was a fun and engaging read. I highly recommend.
June 25, 2023
Try as we might, we are not all powerful, all knowing, or able to be in more than one place at a time. In other words, we are not God. We have limits to our abilities, and this is by design. God created us this way. McGever spends a few chapters explaining all this before diving into how we can best utilize our limits: being faithful in the tasks we are called to and investing time in our relationships being a couple of examples.
Though the book isn't particularly long, I found some areas needlessly wordy. I felt like I got the point that was being made more than a few pages before some chapters ended. This may not be a problem with the book so much as a reflection of my familiarity with similar content.
Also found myself wanting more practical examples of how to apply some things. Felt like the book was leading up to that but never fully delivered.
Despite these things, I still think the book was an overall beneficial read. Probably most helpful for those younger in the faith or perhaps the overzealous on their way to wearing themselves out.
Though the book isn't particularly long, I found some areas needlessly wordy. I felt like I got the point that was being made more than a few pages before some chapters ended. This may not be a problem with the book so much as a reflection of my familiarity with similar content.
Also found myself wanting more practical examples of how to apply some things. Felt like the book was leading up to that but never fully delivered.
Despite these things, I still think the book was an overall beneficial read. Probably most helpful for those younger in the faith or perhaps the overzealous on their way to wearing themselves out.
February 28, 2022
This book was truly inspiring!
This book taught me that God has a plan that I may not always understand or be aware of. God can do the impossible. So, when I feel that I cannot overcome the obstacles I face whether with grad school, family life, or even health, I know I can trust in the faithful Lord to provide.
It is important to be humble by knowing your limits!
As humans we all fail sometimes but being able to get back up and understand our limitations are important. We can look to God for dependence and He will always comfort us.
Overall GREAT book!
This book taught me that God has a plan that I may not always understand or be aware of. God can do the impossible. So, when I feel that I cannot overcome the obstacles I face whether with grad school, family life, or even health, I know I can trust in the faithful Lord to provide.
It is important to be humble by knowing your limits!
As humans we all fail sometimes but being able to get back up and understand our limitations are important. We can look to God for dependence and He will always comfort us.
Overall GREAT book!
March 28, 2022
Love this book Sean! This will be something i give to college and high school students regularly. Great exploration into the God-given limitedness humans have as we are like, but not God, while also pointing us towards health, balance, truth, and ultimately, healthy community. Limits are necessary as we work towards becoming a healthier body of Christ.
February 4, 2025
It seems good news is hard to come by. But what if some news isn’t being looked at it the right way to see the good?
I enjoyed listening to this relatively short book on Hoopla. A lot seemed to align with much of what I have read, such as the Wisdom Pyramid, and I felt like the author had some similarities to me. It wasn’t groundbreaking, but a solid read.
3.5 ⭐️
I enjoyed listening to this relatively short book on Hoopla. A lot seemed to align with much of what I have read, such as the Wisdom Pyramid, and I felt like the author had some similarities to me. It wasn’t groundbreaking, but a solid read.
3.5 ⭐️
February 25, 2022
This book was enjoyable and thought provoking. Sean blends real life scenarios with practical theology in a beautiful way. This book will help us live in a healthier way and not feel bad about it!
January 5, 2025
4/5
felt this could’ve been a touch better if it included a few more real life examples including potential tweaks and priority adjustments do better follow these principles.
still solid.
felt this could’ve been a touch better if it included a few more real life examples including potential tweaks and priority adjustments do better follow these principles.
still solid.
September 6, 2024
Practical and applicable! A lot of gold nuggets worth mining for in this one.
February 7, 2022
The title of this book intrigued me as we don’t normally think of limits as “good news.” But the author takes us through both experience and Biblical teaching to remind us that having limits is actually a gift of grace. Because of our limits, we learn to trust in God more. This is a well-written, encouraging read I can easily recommend to anyone for their spiritual growth.
Full disclosure: I was given an early access copy in exchange for an honest review.
Full disclosure: I was given an early access copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2024
I had Dr. McGever as a professor which led me to read this book, and I absolutely loved it! The idea of embracing our limits rather than constantly attempting to exceed them is such a freeing mindset.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews