I’m just one person. I don’t have any skills or special abilities. Who would listen to my ideas?  I could never lead others. Doesn’t God have more qualified people He could tap for the job?

When you think about being used by God, are these the types of thoughts and questions that come to mind?  Do you shut down the possibility before even really considering it?

You aren’t alone.

Remember Moses? God called him to be the instrument through whom He would free the Israelites from Pharaoh. But Moses doesn’t jump at the opportunity. Instead, he worries the Israelites won’t believe God has sent him –  “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?” (Ex. 4:1). God gives Moses two different signs for the people to see as proof, so Moses tries another angle – “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.” (Ex. 4:10).

The Lord, God of the Universe, Creator of all tells Moses He will help him speak and tell him what to say. Surely Moses can’t argue with that, right? Wrong. Moses finally stops making excuses and gets to the heart of the matter. “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” (Ex. 4:13).

It’s too hard. There are too many risks. It’s out of my comfort zone…just ask someone else! 

I read that verse and I think “I can’t imagine telling God ‘no’ “- or can I? When God impresses something on my heart, when He gives me that holy nudge and I resist, am I not saying ‘no’ to the Maker of heaven and earth? Yikes!

You may not be called to lead people out of captivity, but you may be called to start a Bible study, share your testimony in a group setting, or volunteer in a soup kitchen. We are not stretched in faith until we’re taken out of our comfort zone.

For me, the assignment was to lead a congregation out of the church building. 

I remember telling my pastor that I felt we needed to head out into the community, but I wasn’t a leader. I knew God was saying it should be done, but I was just a “worker bee” with no special skills to start a ministry.  Then God showed up, put a staff in my hand, and said “start walking.”

More than a decade later I’ve been in full-time ministry for almost eight years, I’ve written a book on my outreach experiences that instructs others how to do the same, and I am still amazed at how He continues to lead me out of my comfort zone over and over.

God’s word says “Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” (1 Cor. 1:26-29) 

In other words, God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called. And He calls each and every one of us to show His love to others and tell them about the hope that can be found in Him alone.

When you feel that holy nudge telling you it’s time to step out and step up, will you say “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else,” or will you say “Here am I Lord, send me?”