“In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” John 5:17,
There have been times in my life when God has asked me to do things and I simply resisted. It was typically due to a lack of self-confidence. But there were also times that I felt intimidated or like I couldn’t make a difference. Regardless of the reason, I resisted God’s plan and what He had asked me to do.
Sometimes we feel the leading of the Lord to do something but we doubt in our ability to do the things that He has called us to. We worry about whether we are good enough, strong enough, smart enough, or brave enough.
The truth of the matter is, if God is asking us to do something, He is really just asking us to be a participant in what He is about to do. He wants to work through us to accomplish something. It usually requires very little on our part, other than an obedient, “I will do it”. If we simply say “yes” when He asks, God will do the work.
We see in the scripture that God repeatedly asks people to do things for Him and they come up with excuses for why it shouldn’t be them or why they shouldn’t do it.
When God first called Moses to lead Israel, he questioned, “Who am I that you should send me, God?” “But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt.” Exodus 3:11.
At one point, he even reminds God that He isn’t an eloquent speaker. “But Moses said to the LORD, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue” Exodus 4:10.
Fortunately God isn’t looking for someone who can speak eloquently. He is (and was) looking for someone who will say, “Yes, Lord. You can speak through me.” Then, God will do the work. He did and will speak through that person.
When God called Ananias to go and pray with Saul (soon to be the Apostle Paul), Ananias hesitated. He began to tell God who Paul was and about the magnitude of his power. As if God didn’t know. “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”. Acts 9:13-14.
Ananias seemed to fear being imprisoned. God wasn’t/isn’t looking for someone who was/is brave. He was and is looking for someone who has faith and trust in Him; someone willing to go and pray. Then God will do the work. He did (and will) pray through us and minister to whom He sends us. “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” Romans 8:26.
Jonah was asked by God to go to Nineveh and evangelize to the people there. Jonah didn’t talk back or remind God who the Ninevites were, he simply ran away. Behaving as if he could out run or hide from God! “But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.” Jonah 1:3.
Jonah hated the Ninevite people and didn’t want them to be forgiven. But God wasn’t/isn’t looking for someone who has a deep, passionate love for the people that He is sending them to. He was/is asking for us to love Him enough to be obedient and used by Him. When we do, God will do the work.
Isn’t it ridiculous that Moses would tell the God who created Him that he wasn’t an eloquent speaker? And, how silly was it for Ananias to remind God what Saul had done? Or about how much power he (Saul) had? And JONAH! Are you kidding me… thinking that he could outrun and/or hide from GOD?!
What were these men thinking?!?!
They were probably thinking things similar to what we think when we tell God about our insufficiencies or inadequacies. Or when we remind Him about the dangers/concerns that we might have. And yes, even when we try to outrun and/or hide from God. We ALL do those very same things!! Some more often then others, but we all do them. And yes! It is RIDICULOUS!!!!
There is a great big hurting, lonely, hopeless world out there. But, God doesn’t want to leave it that way. He is the healer for their hurts. He is the presence in their loneliness and the hope in their hopelessness. But someone has got to say, “Yes, Lord. You can lead them, pray with them, and speak to them through me.”
God isn’t asking us to do the work. God will do the work. He is just asking us to say, “Yes, I will go Lord. Send Me.” “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8.
Will we say yes? Will we go and tell them?
Our heart’s desire should be to see God work through us to rescue those who don’t know Him; to see Him minister to them, heal them, and become their hope. “28 So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. 29 That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me. ” Colossians 1:28-29.
After all, it has nothing to do with our abilities, prejudices, or strength. God will do the work, if we will just say, “Yes”!
Father God, forgive us when we try to convince You that we are not the person for the job. Forgive us when we don’t trust You, but instead trust our circumstances. Forgive us Father when we try to run and hide from You. And please, please forgive us when we fail to understand that we have Your healing, presence, and hope living inside of us right now. Lord, this hurting, lonely, and helpless world needs You. Holy Spirit, burden our hearts for those around us that need a touch, prayer, or word from You. Give us the confidence, courage, and desire to reach them for You. Use us mightily, Lord, and be glorified!
“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” Hebrews 13:20-2.
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” Philippians 1:6.
If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and if you have been waiting for someone to help heal those hurts, accompany you in your loneliness, or tell you about the one who can, wait no longer. You are not here by mistake or coincidence. God has drawn you here and is calling you by name. I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/ right now. And I pray that you would pray the prayer that is outlined there. God is waiting. He is waiting to hear from you. He is waiting to forgive and heal you; to be with you and to minister to you. Please don’t keep Him waiting. Pray that prayer!
Once you have prayed that prayer, or if you have any questions, please reach out to me. Our email address is admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com. I’d love to hear from you and to be in prayer for you.
Luv Ya!
