Click for PDF: Get over it 03.10.15

Passage: Exodus 4:1-20

Key Verse: “The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord?” v.11

I could see my younger daughter muttering something under her breath as she stared at the beam in front of her. It was time for the frightful cartwheel on beam, part of her gymnastics routine. My heart skipped a beat. “Thank God I’m not a mother of boys,” I thought. Challenging sports are just not good for my heart.

Gravity scares this little gymnast. It’s almost an oxymoron, I know, since gymnastics is a gravity-defying sport. Yet, she loves it, even though her fear often stalls her progress. A couple of months ago, she was told that she didn’t make it to the competitive team in her gymnastics academy. As parents, my husband and I were concerned that the decision would make her retreat and give up gymnastics altogether. Instead, she gained new resolve. She understands her limitations, but she refuses to give in to fear. Instead, I watched her reciting the verse of scripture that I taught her, right before facing the dreadful beam:

“I can do all things through Christ. I can do all things through Christ.”

She is eight years old and already understands it: on her own, she isn’t able to overcome her fear. But through Christ’s strength, she can do all things.

I smile as I think about awful fears that I had to overcome in my journey with Christ. One of which was the fear of failure and rejection that haunted me when God called me to become a faith writer and speaker.

Yes, I can relate to Moses too well.

No, I haven’t been called to lead a nation out of slavery and into the Promised Land. Nor have I been called to do anything mighty for the Kingdom of God. Regardless, the moment I heard God calling me, a flood of excuses filled my heart…

“I’m not a writer…”

“I have never taught the Bible to adults before…”

 “What about my accent? What if they don’t understand me?”

“Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” V.10

And yet, God’s calling became increasingly louder, as each imperfection I quoted was met with His Sovereignty:

“Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” Vs.11-12

Is it your work or Mine?

This is where we, Yahweh’s children, mess up, each time He calls us out of our comfort zone and into the beauty of His Kingdom’s work. We think it to be humility, but in reality, our hesitant attitude is veiled pride and lack of faith.

Doctors spend ten years or longer at medical school to be able to perform their work. Ballerinas and gymnasts work diligently, several times a week for many years in order to develop the skills that help them become great. Generals must study the enemy’s strategies in order to win wars.

So when it comes to Kingdom work, we have a tendency to believe that we need to be “qualified” to do His work.  Conversely, there are only two simple things that a child of God must do when He calls:

• Spend time with the Master Designer, whether in prayer or studying His Word
• Take one step of obedience at a time, all the while listening to His guidance.

Indeed, if God calls you to do anything in the Name of Jesus, you need to get over yourself.

Because you are completely right – You can’t do it. You are probably unprepared, inadequate and broken. You have possibly made many mistakes in life and Grace has brought you out of a mighty mess.  And yet – YES – it’s you He’s calling.

“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.” 1 Corinthians 1:27

Indeed, most of us are in a long list of broken and imperfect messes that God has called to change the world for Christ. When He walked on this earth, He loved to use the unwanted, the lowly and the broken: Fishermen, tax collectors, persecutors, and even prostitutes…

Lowly receivers of His Grace, who became mighty proclaimers of His Name. All they did was say Yes. Spend time with Him. And take one step at a time. The rest is history. His history, which He calls you and I to continue to write with Him.

So, go ahead, you can say it aloud: You’re not able.

You cannot accomplish the tasks He’s given you on your own strength. But that should not be an excuse not to move. Or to fight God, as Moses did, while repeatedly giving excuses to avoid blind obedience. Instead, do as I (finally) did… and as my little one did while facing that beam. Tell your fearful heart:

No, I’m not able. I’m not qualified. But He is.

With Him, I can do all things (Philippians 4:13).

Because His strength will be made perfect in my weakness. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)

Defy gravity. Jump into His arms in abandoned trust.

Then watch the mighty things He’ll do in you… and through you.