Many times we find ourselves questioning what our next step in life should be. Some of us know what God has called us to do yet, we choose to stay in the same routine and not take the leap of faith because fear holds us back.
Fear stops us from putting faith into action.
While it sounds great that God wants to use us to rescue people who need help, just like Moses rescued the Israelites out of Egypt, God’s plan for our lives won’t come to pass if we continue questioning the outcome.
In fact, fear will even make us believe that God’s calling is about us when it’s about serving others. God calls and uses his children as instruments to respond to other people’s prayers.
Let’s take a look at how Moses responded to God’s calling.
God will call and interrupt your plans
“So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
Exodus 3:10
When God called Moses, he was comfortable. Moses had the life every man dreams of. He had a wife named Zipporah, a father-in-law who loved him, two sons, and a stable job.
His job consisted of taking care of Jethro’s flock. Scripture tells us that Moses was going through his daily routine when suddenly a burning bush caught his attention. Curiosity took over him and that’s why he approached the burning bush.
But what happened next was more than what he hoped for – he found God.
Moses met God behind the burning bush. He was definitely not expecting God to interrupt his life, but most definitely not expecting God to tell him to go back to Egypt, the place he escaped.
To explain the context, when Moses lived in Egypt he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, so he struck and killed the Egyptian. After everyone knew of what he had done, Moses escaped and ended up in Midian.
We were created to serve our purpose
The Bible says in Psalms 139:16: “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
This was God’s plan for Moses’ life since before he was born! Since the start of his story, we see how Moses’ life was spared when his mother hid him as a baby. Also, God had already put in his heart to help the Israelites. When he was living in Egypt, he saw firsthand how the Israelites were severely mistreated.
Living a comfortable life was not his first calling, God had ordained him to serve his generation.
Just like that, God calls every one of us to our generation. Not to live the life we think we ought to live, but to do what God has placed in our hearts. Our call is to help and serve people, even when it seems unreachable.
Fear will make us give excuses
After God introduced himself to Moses and called him to take the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses came up with every excuse he could think of.
Let’s take a look at the excuses Moses made vs. God’s responses:
Moses’ excuse
“But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11)
God’s response:
“And God said, ‘I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” (Exodus 3:12)
Moses’ excuse
“Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” (Exodus 3:13)
God’s response:
“God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14)
Moses’ excuse:
“Moses answered, ‘What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?” (Exodus 4:1)
God’s response:
“Then the Lord said to him, ‘What is that in your hand?’ ‘A staff,’ he replied. The Lord said, ‘Throw it on the ground.’ Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.’ So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. ‘This,’ said the Lord, ‘is so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.’” (Exodus 4:2-5)
Moses’ excuse:
“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.’” (Exodus 4:10)
God’s response:
“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 4:11-12)
Moses’ excuse:
“But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” (Exodus 4:13)
God’s response:
“Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, ‘What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you.’” (Exodus 4:14)
Walking by faith means walking blindly
There’s a reason why walking by faith means not walking by sight. We truly can’t see the outcome. That’s why it’s hard to step out.
Walking by faith means being uncertain of what might happen. It also means maintaining hope and trusting that God is truthful.
Sometimes we want a sign from God before we take the first step of faith, but just like Moses’ story, God will show us a sign after we step out in obedience. Now, that’s hard.
“And God said, ‘I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
Exodus 3:12
The promises of God break fear
When God has affirmed that he will be with us at all times, now it’s our turn to take action. God will use us, but it won’t always feel comfortable.
So many times we glorify our purpose and calling because we see it as a peak in life, but it’s the complete opposite. Living for God will humble and strip our sense of security. From now on, we will rely on God’s promises to walk by faith.
Prayer to live God’s calling
Dear God,
I’ve been scared all my life to do what you’ve called me to do. Today, I recognize and repent for thinking this calling is about me. I ask you to remove selfishness from inside my heart and help me to live out the days you’ve ordained for me. I lay down my excuses and recognize that I shouldn’t fear because you’re with me. Give me the courage to live boldly for you, oh Lord. I no longer want to rely on my circumstances, instead I want to live glorifying you and trusting in your promises. In the name of Jesus, Amen.