 "But, I'm not good enough."
"But, I don't have the qualifications for that." "But, who am I that I should do that?" Insert your "But" here. What reasoning in your heard are you using today that's preventing you from what you want to do? From what you know you're created to do? Is it fear? Insecurity? The opinions of others? I was reading about Moses this morning, and holy moly, did he remind me of myself. "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the the Israelites out of Egypt?" "Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent- either in the past or recently or since you have been speaking to your servant." "Please send someone else." He's doing everything he can to tell God why he isn't qualified enough, why He shouldn't use him, that He should use someone else. Umm.. hello. You're talking to the one who created the whole universe and you're going to tell him that even though He's going to be with you and give you all you need to do it, that you still don't know if you can do it and want him to choose someone else? He doesn't condemn him, or tell him he's silly and unqualified. He reassures him. "I will certainly be with you" "And I will give these people such favor with the Egyptians that when you go, you will not go empty-handed." "I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say." He is going to be there every step of the way. Sure, Moses doesn't feel like he can do it and has no idea how in the world God's going to use him to do it, but guess what... He does. One of my favorite quotes I've heard, I don't remember where, but I've heard it a few different places.. "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called." The thing is, we'll never feel 100% ready for something. We're never going to satisfy every credential that someone might be looking for. We might have this or that, but not everything. And ya know what? That's totally fine because if God brings you to it, He's going to bring you through it. He's going to provide you with everything you need to bring to pass what He needs to accomplish in and through you. I think we all have some Moses in us. I'll be the first to admit that I do. "But God, why there? Why not this place or that?" "I don't think I could do that." "Can't I do this over here instead?" Hil.. It doesn't matter what you think you can do. Trust in me. Lean into me. Walk with me. I will carry you. I will provide for you. I will teach you. I will give you the words to speak and open the doors you need to walk through, close the doors that you need to walk away from. It might seem crazy to other people, it might take you out of your comfort zone, but I will be there every step of the way. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. Who are you that you should go? You are a unique, fearfully and wonderfully made individual. It doesn't matter what you've said, what you've done in the past, or even what you did this morning. You are loved. You are enough. Whether you're walking out your dream every single day, or you're figuring it out day by day, all that you are is perfect. You might not feel ready or you might feel 110% confident in it, but when you take that step and trust that you'll be fine, that the Lord will provide, that He's there with you.. something amazing happens. The fear dissipates. The anxieties cease. The opinions of others are fleeting. You don't have to worry, because He is with you every step of the way. You might have been fearful, but God. You might have been in a panic, but God. You might not have known what to say or do, but God. Let God be bigger than your but. It might be unchartered waters, and that's okay.. He'll help you walk on the water or He'll part the sea, but He'll never let you drown.
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"Everything will work out how it's supposed to." If you ever have a conversation with me, you've probably heard me say that. If you talk to me often, you probably hear me say that at least once on a daily basis, typically multiple times. I'm a firm believer in it, and I've clung to Romans 8:28 in my daily life pretty hardcore for the past year and a half. If you aren't familiar with it, it says “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” While I say it often and believe in it wholeheartedly, there are times that I say it because I know I need to hear it, because I know I need to believe it, even if I might not be feeling it and having faith in it with my whole heart. Doubts. Fears. Insecurities. Detours. They creep in and can test that belief that He will indeed work everything together for the good. I've been reading through Genesis this week, and as I was working through the story of Joseph and his brothers, we read about Joseph being sold by his brothers and his father, Jacob, believing that he was killed and he'd never seen his son again. Joseph eventually ended up in prison and by the grace of God, was eventually called to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh. God had been showing Pharaoh through his dreams that there would be 7 years of abundance, followed by 7 years of severe famine in the land. Pharaoh was pleased with Joseph's wisdom and discernment from the Lord, and appointed Joseph over the land of Egypt, with only himself being greater than him. A man that once was sold by his brothers and sat in prison was now a powerful figure in the land. When the famine hit, Joseph's brothers had been sent by Jacob to Egypt to find some grain, and guess where they ended up? Face-to-face with their brother they'd sold many years back. They didn't recognize him, but Joseph recognized them. As the time passed, Joseph could no longer keep his composure in front of his brothers, particularly after meeting his younger brother that he'd never met, and he revealed to them who he was. Joseph told his brothers not to be angry with themselves for what they did to him, because through all of the bad he experienced, God was setting him up to preserve the lives of many. He sent them back to his father so they could tell him the news and come back to live near him, in the best parts of the land of Egypt. Can you imagine, hearing that your son whom you thought was killed, was not only alive, but was being used by God in powerful ways? Jacob says to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face again, but now God has even let me see your offspring." God exceeds his expectations. Completely blows it out of the water. Near the end of Genesis, Joseph says to his brothers "You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result- the survival of many people." Who would've seen that coming? Only God. What seemed terrible at the time, in the end, was turned around for so much goodness. That's the thing that's both hard to grasp and amazing at the same time. Sometimes we go through hard times, sometimes we experience things that don't make an ounce of sense, and we can't see clearly how or when God will move in the situation. Sometimes it seems completely hopeless. Never deem anything impossible though, because with God, nothing is impossible. Remember the story of Joseph. Whenever I'm walking through something, no matter how good or bad it is, I remember that it's not about me.. It doesn't have to make sense to me. It's not about what I want, about what I think is best.. it's about what He's doing behind the scenes that I might not be able to see yet, about how God wants to use me and my life to bring Him glory. I know that wherever He leads me, whatever each day brings, that it's for reasons that I might not ever know on this side of heaven, but that He is crafting perfectly for His good and so I just have to trust Him. Sometimes kicking or dragging my feet, but putting all of my trust in His goodness and faithfulness. So yes, there will be times in life where we're disappointed, hurt, dealing with fears and anxieties, but hold tight.. He's working it for your good. No, it might not match your timetable. No, it might not look anything like you expected. No, it might not be easy. There will be days you feel like you have zero strength, you're tired and weary, but don't lose hope. It might seem bad and uncertain now, but it will work together for your good, and it'll be far more than you ever imagined. Imagine how Jacob felt after learning his son was indeed alive. He has great plans for you. I've been listening to this song a lot lately.. and this part is my favorite: "But there will be days when you lose your faith And there will be nights when you give up hope Disappointment and pain, and you'll flirt with the shame So you call me from the end of your rope And I'll give you whatever I have But there's only one thing you'll need And that's love, I'll give you my love" He'll give us His love. He wants the best for us, and He'll give us everything that we need. Have faith, hope, and love. Repeat. Wherever you're at right now, He's working the things in your life for the good. Keep stepping and keep repeating it until you believe it. Good things are ahead. |
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