When Called to Do the Impossible…

Perhaps you have been called to do something which seems to you impossible.

At first the clear response seems an abrupt “no.” Surely God wouldn’t want me to sully His Name by totally botching this thing which I am utterly unqualified to do… you reason to yourself.

God had been preparing Moses for this very moment as He reveals both the need and the call: “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt… Yes, I am aware of their suffering. Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3. 7, 10)

Consider the ensuing dialogue and perhaps you can think of a time when you sought to argue with God about a certain calling:

• When God said, “You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3.10) Moses responded, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” (vs 11)
• Have you ever said “Who am I?”

• When God said, “I will be with you,” (Exodus 3.12) Moses protested “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” (vs 13)
• Have you ever challenged “What do I say?”

• When God said, “Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you.” (Exodus 3.14) Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?” (Exodus 4.1)
• Have you ever thought, “What if they don’t like me?”

• When God said, “If they do not believe you and are not convinced by the first miraculous sign, they will be convinced by the second sign.” (Exodus 4.8) Moses protested again, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” (vs 10)
• Have you ever justified yourself with, “I’m not very good at that?”

• Then God said, “Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” (Exodus 4.12) But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.” (verse 13)

Have you ever pleaded with God to “send anyone else?”

I will never forget when it became abundantly clear to me that my life story would include both getting married and adopting three children ages 9, 7 and 4 – all at the same time! I assure you that my response to God was something like “How can I possibly be the wife and mother these precious people need?” God’s assurance of his presence, provision, and power gave me courage to do just that. For the past thirty-seven years.

That very year, Madeleine L’Engle had just written “”Walking on Water”  a book that was feeding my soul. Even today I can recite her words by heart because they were used to help make me soul strong back then.

“We are all asked to do more than we can do. Every hero and heroine of the Bible does more than he would have thought it possible to do, from Gideon to Esther to Mary. In a very real sense not one of us is qualified, but it seems that God continually chooses the most unqualified to do his work, to bear his glory. If we are qualified, we tend to think that we have done the job ourselves. If we are forced to accept our evident lack of qualifications, then there is no danger that we will confuse God’s work with our own, or God’s glory with our own.”

Madeleine L’Engle, Walking on Water

I have had far greater challenges since that time, but these truths have helped me stay soul strong.

Friend, all our gaps will be filled in by God.

When He calls, don’t waste your time arguing. Simply respond, “Here I am” and enter into the greatest adventure of all…

under the mercy, Lucinda

“Helping You Choose a Life of Serenity and Strength”

©2021 Lucinda Secrest McDowell      www.LucindaSecrestMcDowell.com

Lucinda Secrest McDowell is a storyteller and seasoned mentor who engages both heart and mind while “Helping You Choose a Life of Serenity & Strength.” She has authored 15 books including “Soul Strong – 7 Keys to a Vibrant Life” and “Life-Giving Choices – 60 Days to What Matters Most.” She writes from “Sunnyside” cottage in New England and shares encouraging words at LucindaSecrestMcDowell.com©2020 Lucinda Secrest McDowell, from “Soul Strong – 7 Keys to a Vibrant Life”

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