Did you know there are things God cannot do?

We often think of God as omnipotent, meaning all-powerful, and omniscient, meaning all-knowing—and of course, He is. There is no limit to His strength, knowledge, or authority. But even with all that power, there are certain things God can’t do.

Why? Because He is bound to His own nature and His Word. His perfection sets boundaries—not of weakness, but of holiness. There are things God can’t do—not because of limitation but because of His holy and perfect nature.

One of the most foundational truths is that God can’t lie. Numbers 23:19 tells us,

and Hebrews 6:18 reinforces that,

Titus 1:2 adds,

God's very essence is truth, and everything He says is eternally trustworthy. If God could lie, the entire foundation of faith would collapse, because His word is what upholds all creation (Hebrews 1:3).

Another thing God can’t do is be tempted by evil. James 1:13 declares,

Temptation relies on the presence of weakness or sinful desire—something entirely absent from God's character. Evil finds no place or partnership in Him because He is wholly holy and incorruptible.

We see a powerful example of this truth in the life of Jesus during His time in the wilderness. After fasting for forty days, Satan approached Him with temptations aimed to exploit human weakness—hunger, pride, and the desire for power (Matthew 4:1–11).

The enemy said, “If You are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread…” then later, “Throw Yourself down…” and finally, “All these [kingdoms] I will give You if You fall down and worship me.” Yet each time, Jesus responded not with emotion or reasoning, but with the written Word of God:

He stood firm because there was nothing in Him that could be lured or corrupted.

Though Jesus was fully man, He was also fully God, and He did not sin. Hebrews 4:15 confirms,

This moment on the mountain wasn’t a possibility of Jesus failing—it was the demonstration of how evil has no grip on God. It wasn’t a battle of equals; it was a public display that holiness cannot be compromised. Satan tried to manipulate the Son, but the Son stood immovable, showing us the heart of a God who cannot be tempted.

In addition, God cannot deny Himself. His faithfulness isn't conditional or reactive—it flows from who He is. Even when we fall short, fail to believe, or wander in weakness, God remains true.

That means His loyalty is not based on our performance but on His unchanging nature and eternal character.

This truth is especially powerful when we understand it through the lens of covenant—specifically, the blood covenant He established through Jesus Christ. In the ancient world, a blood covenant was the most binding and serious agreement two parties could enter. Breaking it wasn't just dishonorable; it brought a curse. But when God made covenant with us through Jesus, He sealed it with His own blood, making it unbreakable.

Hebrews 10:23 urges us,

And Psalm 89:34 declares,

So when God says He cannot deny Himself, it means He will never walk away from the promises He made—even if we stumble. His covenant love is steadfast, not fragile. His loyalty is not tied to how tightly we hold onto Him, but how firmly He holds onto us.

The blood speaks louder than our failures.

God also can’t honor the flesh. Scripture is clear in Romans 8:8:

And Hebrews 11:6 reminds us,

The flesh operates in self-effort, pride, and performance—none of which can move God’s heart. He responds to faith, to the posture that says, “I trust You over me.”

The flesh exalts man, but faith exalts God.

Another unshakable truth is that God cannot change. Malachi 3:6 says,

And Hebrews 13:8 confirms,

Change implies that something could improve or decline—neither of which apply to a perfect, eternal God.

His consistency is the bedrock of our hope. He is not evolving, shifting, or adjusting with the times. He is eternally faithful and perfectly stable.

Even when society changes, when cultures shift, or when you move to a completely different country and are exposed to new ways of life, God is still the same. He does not conform to human customs, opinions, or trends. We don’t change God—He changes us.  His Word is not up for negotiation or modernization. He doesn’t update His commands to suit the current mood of the world.

What was sin is still sin. What was holy is still holy. 
And what He promised remains unshaken.

We are not called to bend under the lure of the world or yield to the pressure of darkness that tries to pull us away from His will. The enemy is subtle and strategic, whispering compromise, cultural relevance, and self-made truth. But God’s people are called to stand—anchored in unchanging truth, covered by the unchanging covenant, and protected by the unchanging God.

We don’t shift to fit in—we shine to stand out. We walk in obedience, not convenience. We choose faith over feelings, holiness over hype, and truth over trend. Because He doesn’t move—we move toward Him.  When everything else around us is shaking, we remain steady—because our God never changes.

God also cannot overlook sin without atonement. Hebrews 9:22 makes it plain:

And Romans 6:23 reminds us,

These verses aren't just theological statements—they're showing us the seriousness of sin and the high cost of forgiveness.

You see, atonement means a price has to be paid to make things right. It's not God being harsh—it's God being just. In the same way that a good judge can’t ignore a crime or sweep it under the rug, God, who is perfectly just, cannot pretend sin didn’t happen. Every sin creates a debt that demands payment. That payment is death—not just physical, but spiritual separation from God.

But here's the beautiful part: instead of making us pay the price, God sent Jesus to pay it for us. Jesus, sinless and perfect, became our substitute. He took the punishment that we deserved. The cross wasn’t just a symbol of love—it was a legal transaction. Justice was satisfied because the debt was paid, and mercy was released because Jesus stood in our place. That’s atonement.

God doesn't overlook sin. He dealt with it fully, once and for all, at the cross. That’s why forgiveness isn’t something we earn—it’s something we receive. It cost us nothing, but it cost Him everything.

And finally, God cannot be mocked. Galatians 6:7 warns us,

God sees everything and brings all things into account. Even if it seems like the ungodly mock Him now, His justice will prevail in due time. He will not be ridiculed or taken lightly.

So yes—there are things God can’t do, but every “can’t” speaks of His greatness, not His weakness.

He can’t lie because He is Truth.

He can’t be tempted because He is Holy.

He can’t change because He is Perfect.

He can’t overlook sin because He is Just.

He can’t deny Himself because He is Faithful.

He can’t honor the flesh because He is Spirit.

He can’t break covenant because He is a Promise Keeper.

And He can’t be mocked because He is Righteous Judge.

What a powerful God we serve—flawless, trustworthy, and forever faithful.

With all that said, while there are things God cannot do because of His holy nature—He can and does change His mind in response to the hearts of people. Scripture is full of moments where God's intentions shifted because someone repented, obeyed, or interceded. He was going to kill Moses after Moses failed to circumcise his son, but after Zipporah corrected the fault, God's wrath was turned away (Exodus 4:24–26).

When God planned to destroy Nineveh, He changed His mind after the people humbled themselves, fasted, and turned from their wickedness (Jonah 3:10). He also extended King Hezekiah’s life by 15 years when Hezekiah prayed and wept before Him (Isaiah 38:1–5). And again, in Exodus 32:14, God relented from destroying Israel after Moses stood in the gap and pleaded for mercy.

These examples don’t make God inconsistent—they reveal His mercy. While His nature never changes, His responses can shift when hearts do. He cannot lie, He cannot sin, and He cannot break covenant—but He absolutely listens, responds, and shows compassion when we walk in humility and obedience.

The God who "cannot" in holiness is also the God who "will" in mercy.

That’s the beauty of His perfect balance—He’s unmovable in character, yet responsive in relationship. And that gives us hope. Because even if we’ve blown it, we serve a God who still listens, still sees, and still responds to a surrendered heart.

Amanda Allen, the author of Kingdom Revelations, holds the copyright to her work, art, graphics, and videos. Copyright © Amanda Allen, Kingdom Revelations, 2025. All rights reserved. This article may be most definitely be shared with acknowledgment of the author and the original source of the Bible, the Word of God, created by Amanda's Bible Studies. Enjoy!