I was talking to one of my bff’s this morning and she was sharing with me how she would love to see her child excel in something that they are so gifted in but don’t want to do. She said it’s frustrating as a mother when you see in them something so awesome but they don’t want to do it. I said I totally get it. I remember during my daughters first three years of high school I was begging her to try out for the spring musical. She could sing. She had this natural ability, this gift, so why isn’t she using it! Finally her senior year she tried out and sure enough landed the understudy to the lead! The director said to me “Seriously? Where has she been?”

My friend then said to me “Don’t you think that God feels the same way about us as we do as parents about our children? He gives us gifts, talents and abilities but we just don’t use them?” I said YES! I totally agree and felt I needed to write about it. What is it that holds us back….FEAR! I know my daughter knows she can sing but fear told her maybe she didn’t sing that well. Or what would her friends think, would they pass judgment? What if she tried out and didn’t make it? Fear.

I know personally I have assignments that God has put on my life, things He has told me to do that I just keep putting off. Why? Fear. I keep making excuses, reasons I don’t think I should, reasons He should ask someone else and it all comes down to fear. What will people think if I share a personal story that at one time brought me shame but now through God’s grace has brought me peace? OR what if He has asked me to start an outreach project but the cost, scope, details etc. have trapped me in fear?

If we take a look at Moses from the Old Testament, he dealt with the same fears. Now his assignment was pretty extreme compared to some of the things God has asked of me so I totally see why he was afraid. I mean, God told him to go back and lead the Israelites out of Egypt. To rescue thousands upon thousands from the bondage of slavery and the hands of pharaoh. Umm, no small task. Before even going to pharaoh, Moses needed to convince the Israelites (the elders) that God spoke to him through a burning bush and instructed him to do this. So Moses decided to talk to God about all the reasons he couldn’t.

First he humbly says “Who am I that I should go?” God assures Moses that He selected him specifically and that God will be with him. Moses then asks a very good question “So what if they don’t believe me?” God then shares with Moses the signs that Moses will perform that will make them believe. Not one sign but several signs. Next he told God “I am slow of speech and tongue.” Basically, he stutters. I’ll be scared enough and on top of it all I won’t be able to get the words out clearly to explain to the elders what you have asked me to do. God said, since I made you I am sure I know you can do this and I will help you and teach you what to say. We’ll practice and you’ll be prepared going in. When that didn’t work Moses said flat out “Send someone else.” I know I personally have said that several times to God! Basically, “nope, you better move on to your plan B.” Like God needs a plan B! So God said to Moses, fine I’ll send Aaron along with you to speak but you will take the lead and perform the signs. At the end of Exodus 4 verses 27-31 it says:

The Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he met Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him. Then Moses told Aaron everything the Lord had sent him to say, and also about all the signs he had commanded him to perform.
Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites, and Aaron told them everything the Lord had said to Moses. He also performed the signs before the people, and they believed. And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.

The rest as we say is history and Moses completed this huge, scary assignment that God put on his life. Truth is, if God has told you to do something then He certainly has equipped you to do it! Now it may not be such a task as leading an entire nation of people to freedom but it may be as small as forgiving someone that hurt you or asking forgiveness of someone you hurt. Making that phone call to someone who you haven’t spoken to in years but know you really need to hear their voice. Maybe it is finally leading a bible study group on a subject you are passionate about and know it would benefit others. Maybe it is, like me, sharing your story of a scary season in your life. Like Moses and his stutter, I certainly don’t think of myself as a writer but just someone with a story to share and a God who told me to share it. Make this the day you overcome your fear and step out in faith knowing if God told you to do it then He certainly equipped you to succeed!

“Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior” – Hillsong, Oceans