I can’t do it. Me? Not in my skill set. Way past my comfort zone. Do what? I can’t. I have never done it. They don’t deserve it. They will think I am crazy. How can I afford it?
Have you ever had a directive, idea, mission, or vision to do something and you believe the Lord inspired it? One of the ways you know the Lord is inspiring it is because when you think about accomplishing it you know it is impossible to accomplish.
I am challenged with a vision to eliminate the need for abortion in Southeast Georgia. It seems impossible. I also struggle with a mission to empower youth to embrace purity in relationships and postpone sex until marriage. Really? Do this in our culture?
It is not always some grand vision or mission. It could be to forgive or love someone who you think is unlovable. This can be the greatest challenges of all. You may be completely unwilling to go there.
If you are like me you may find yourself in the trap of the first paragraph, giving all the reasons why you are incapable to fulfill the mission. This is a common malady for me.
Don’t worry if you find yourself sharing this malady. Some really great people share the same misgivings. Great biblical leaders like Moses have had this issue.
Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you.’” (Exodus 4:1 ESV)
But Moses said to the LORD, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” (Exodus 4:10 ESV)
But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?” (Exodus 6:12 ESV)
God gave Moses a vision of His people being set free from bondage and Moses began laying out all his misgivings. He explained to God why he was not suitable to complete the mission. In the midst of my stumbling and bumbling with my own hesitations, I have uncovered a few things about Moses misgivings and ways to deal with my tendency to join in his malady.
Recognize that you were not called by God to fulfill the task because you are able to accomplish it. The cliché, He did not call you for your ability but for your availability.
Own the responsibility of His challenge. He gave it to you.
Humbly receive the honor and privilege as He has considered you worthy of receiving more responsibility.
Go ahead and communicate with the Lord your misgivings. He knows it already. You will note that Moses was not annihilated for communicating his with the Lord.
Surrender yourself to prepare for and do the next step. The Lord has a tendency to reveal just the next creative step. No one step will accomplish the God-sized task, because then it would not be God-sized.
Upon being faithful to complete the next step He will provide what is necessary for the next step.
Before you know it the people of God are on their way out of Egypt. In other words, the God-sized directive, idea, mission, or vision is accomplished. Of course, as you have shown yourself faithful on this course, the honor of the next directive, idea, mission, or vision will be presented. Don’t worry you can’t handle it, so just start again.
Do you, like Moses, struggle with the directive, idea, mission, or vision you believe God has put on your heart?
What have you done to deal with your misgivings?