Moses said to the LORD, “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.” The LORD said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
EXODUS 4:10 – 12
There is only one rescuer with the power to free us from the darkest prison. That rescuer is the God who loves us so much he left everything to come for us, to free us. He is the one who made us, each of us, for a unique purpose and a magnificent destiny. His plans are for good, not for evil. His ways are straight and merciful. He came to give me a hope and a future — and to give you one too. His promises are true. His love is full of forgiveness and peace, joy and kindness, grace. He is the true rescuer. He saves us from any prison, whether physical or emotional or spiritual, the ones we’re forced into and the ones we fall into on our own. He chooses us.
Our God loves us without condition, unrelentingly, forever. He loves us broken, and he loves making us whole again. And he asks those of us who love him to love others the same way. To choose them. To be agents of his hope, his forgiveness, his grace. He asks us to join him in rescuing others.
So why don’t we?
There are reasons why when we hear God’s call, when we feel that gentle urging of God’s Spirit for us to make a bold step, take a risk, serve others, save a life, commit — we so often hold back.
It may be because we don’t feel qualified.
We think we lack the courage, the strength, the wisdom, the money, the experience, the education, the organization, the backing.
We feel like Moses when, from out of the burning bush, God called him to speak for him before Pharaoh. “Not me, God. I’m afraid. Weak. Poor. Stupid. Unqualified. Daunted.”
Not long ago, that is exactly how I would have responded. But it has never been my desire to be daunted, to be afraid, to be unable to respond to God’s call. Just as God gave Moses exactly what he needed to accomplish great things, he will equip us in the same way. If he calls us to slay giants, he will make us into giant slayers.
God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called.
MOMENT OF REFLECTION
Has God called you to take a bold step toward serving others?
For what reasons do you feel you are qualified or unqualified for the job?