How can we overcome feelings of inadequacy when called to serve God? Seeing Moses’ Struggle in Exodus 6:12 “ But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, ‘If the Israelites will not listen to me, then why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I am unskilled in speech?’ ” Moses voices raw inadequacy. He stands before God, hears a clear commission, yet feels utterly unequal to the assignment. His words capture what many servants of God quietly feel: personal limits seem louder than divine calling. What God Does With Human Inadequacy • God answers Moses with renewed command and assurance (Exodus 6:13), not scolding but reinforcing purpose. • The call rests on God’s covenant faithfulness, not on Moses’ eloquence (Exodus 6:2–8). • Scripture repeatedly places fragile people in God-sized missions, demonstrating that weakness becomes a stage for divine power. Timeless Lessons Drawn From the Passage • Honest confession is welcomed in God’s presence; denial helps no one. • Personal shortcomings do not cancel divine assignments. • The weight of the mission stays on God’s shoulders; the servant simply obeys. • Obedience often precedes confidence; feelings catch up later. Supporting Voices Throughout Scripture • Jeremiah felt too young and inarticulate, yet God touched his mouth and promised, “I am with you” (Jeremiah 1:6–9). • Gideon called himself “the least,” but the Angel of the LORD said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior” (Judges 6:12-16). • Paul writes, “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our competence comes from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5). • Jesus assures, “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5) and then promises enabling power through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). • “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). • “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Promises That Silence the Voice of Inadequacy • God’s presence: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). • God’s provision: “The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24). • God’s equipping: “May the God of peace… equip you with every good thing to do His will” (Hebrews 13:20-21). • God’s purpose: “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). Practical Steps for Daily Confidence • Rehearse God’s call: read the commissioning passages that apply to your task. • Replace self-talk with Scripture-talk: speak verses of promise aloud until they saturate the heart. • Take the next obedient step instead of waiting for perfect readiness. • Lean on fellowship: invite mature believers to affirm God’s work in you and to hold you accountable. • Celebrate small evidences of God’s enablement, building memorials of remembrance like Israel’s stone altars. • Guard private worship; lingering in God’s presence recalibrates perspective. Living Examples Beyond Moses • David, the overlooked shepherd, defeats Goliath with conviction that “the battle belongs to the LORD” (1 Samuel 17:47). • Esther, an orphaned exile, risks everything, convinced she is placed in the palace “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). • The early disciples, once fearful, speak boldly after Pentecost because they are “filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 4:31). Closing Encouragement God does not minimize weakness; He overshadows it with Himself. When feelings of inadequacy rise, anchor to His presence, promises, and power. Like Moses, step forward in obedience, trusting the God who turns reluctant servants into instruments of His mighty deliverance. |
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