Hey! Guess what?
You can’t do it.
Whatever that “it” is for you. Be it a degree, a career, motherhood, a skill, a relationship, a leadership position, moving across the world; whatever it is: you are inadequate. If it is outside of the calling of God, you are inadequate. If you are pursuing things aside from God, then it’s rooted in selfish ambition and pride.
Then why?
Then why does He call us to do really terrifying, scary things? Why does God give us big tasks when we are inadequate?
First off, it is to purge us of insecurities. I’ve been reading through Exodus and I’ve been hung up on the part with the burning bush. Where God meets Moses with something so common (a bush) but makes it entirely uncommon (it burns without being consumed). And you know what has caught my eye and convicted my core? Moses’ answers to God’s instruction and miracles:
“Who am I to appear before Pharoah? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” (3:11)
“What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?” (4:1)
“But Moses pleaded again, ‘O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled. (4:10; emphasis added).
“But Moses again pleaded, ‘Lord, please! Send anyone else.’ (4:13)
After reading Moses responses, I thought, “Wow. Here was Yahweh speaking directly to Moses through a constantly burning bush and he still doubts FOUR TIMES.” Then I was convicted because I know the Lord has instructed me to do scary things and I’ve doubted far more than four times–but He was still patient and gracious.
We are our worst critic
Isn’t easy to get stuck in our own head? We really are our worst critic. We often receive insults as truth before we receive encouragement. We allow the devil’s voice of doubt to reign before the Truth of God. That was even present in the garden, when Satan slithered at Eve, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit?” (Gen. 3:1). Doubt was at the root of the first sin.
But I Can
We let insecurities fog our calling and our dreams–but God wants to shine through that. He says, “Yes, you are merely human, but I can make a path for you. If you let Me, I will direct your steps!” We can only go so far on our own. In our salvation, going on our own meant the Law and animal sacrifice–but Jesus overshadowed all our inadequacies with his Power and has given us that same Power, The Holy Spirit.
“We are confident in all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us to be ministers of the new covenant.” (2 Cor. 3:4-6).
I’ve got you
The second reason God calls us to do scary things is to display HIS adequacy through our inadequacy. It brings us to a place of humility where we say, “Woah. There’s no way I could have done that. That was God.” From the gift of initial salvation to living out our salvation through pursuing Jesus into scary, impossible but God-glorifying things, God lifts us up in His glory. He silents those insecurities and whispers “I’ve got you, so you’ve got this.”
And you know what? Moses successfully led the Israelites out of Egypt, under the exact circumstances God had promised. Now, the Israelites
What are you going to do with your burning bush?
So, dear heart, what are you going to do with your burning bush? Are you going to listen to insecurities, doubts and smother the bush? Or will you let it’s flame, His flame, spark your heart into action and passion?
It’s up to you. The Lord is only awaiting your YES.
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