Sometimes God asks us to do things we are very uncomfortable with. We can be nervous or even feel overwhelmed or afraid. When God chooses to use us He typically does so in a way that stretches and challenges us. It is important to Him that we do not convince ourselves that we accomplished the challenge on our own without Him. He wants us to know that He helped us or in many cases, He did it all. The story of Gideon comes to mind as a classic example, but we will study that another time.
2 Corinthians 12:9 9And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
When you feel overwhelmed, remember that if God calls you to do something, no one can stop Him. The only way you lose is if you choose not to participate. Another great example is the story of Moses. God wanted to grow His people into a great nation. He prospered them even while they were in slavery. He planned to liberate His people at the time of His choosing and in the manner of His choosing. Pharaoh used all of his considerable authority and might to try to defeat the plans of God and keep the Hebrew people from becoming great. He imposed harsh slavery and eventually called for the Hebrew sons to be killed in mass while still babies. God, however, would not be stopped. God worked through what would seem humanly impossible series of events to protect Moses and allow him to grow strong so that he would eventually, in God’s timing, lead God’s people out of bondage in Egypt.
22Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born you are to cast into the Nile, and every daughter you are to keep alive.”
The Birth of Moses
1Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a daughter of Levi. 2The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months. 3But when she could hide him no longer, she got him a wicker basket and covered it over with tar and pitch. Then she put the child into it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. 4His sister stood at a distance to find out what would happen to him.
5The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the Nile, with her maidens walking alongside the Nile; and she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid, and she brought it to her. 6When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the boy was crying. And she had pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” 7Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women that she may nurse the child for you?” 8Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go ahead.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. 9Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. 10The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. And she named him Moses, and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.”
If God is calling you to do something, even something that seems very challenging or near impossible… you have to make a choice as to whether or not you will obey. It is not a test of faith for us to do something that we can accomplish in our own power. God’s power shines brightest when we step out in faith and let Him work through our weakness to accomplish His plans.
What is God calling you to do in your life that you may be hesitant to embrace? We are not all asked to lead a nation out of slavery like Moses, but sometimes even more ordinary tasks like forgiving someone who hurt us or volunteering to help people in need may seem overwhelming at times. Remember, you do not have to accomplish it in your own power if God calls you to do it. When God calls you to do something, you can trust He will not be stopped even if you don’t understand how He will succeed. Seek God humbly and prayerfully and consistently. Study His word to verify that what you believe you hear from Him is in fact consistent with His word. Then commit before Him to do what He asks and ask Him to help.
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