The Call to Difficult Things

Moses was called to a task he didn’t feel equipped to do: Talk with Pharaoh and be the man to lead the Children of Israel out of Egypt. I can just hear him stuttering all his excuses to God. David was the youngest of many sons and yet, God called him to kill Goliath and chose him to be king. Rahab ran the first Underground Railroad for displaced spies. Countless others in God’s Word were called to do hard things.

Many Christians today suffer from a bad spiritual self-image. We raise questions when God calls us to do something difficult. Recently, I suffered these symptoms when I felt God calling me to start a tutoring program in our local public school. “What ifs” controlled my thoughts and all my junior high insecurities began surfacing again. I found myself giving God a list of all the reasons I couldn’t do what He asked. At the top of the list: “it’s too hard.”

Thankfully there have been many examples, both biblically and historically, of people who dared to do hard things for God. I’ve been reminded lately that God doesn’t always provide protection from the hard things that come our way, but He does always provide a presence. His strength somehow invades our weakness and rushes through our hearts to provide peace and contentment. When our flesh cries out “I can’t,” it’s music to God’s ears. That’s exactly where He wants us. When our dependence totally depends on Him, we are in a position of emptiness. It’s then that His portion can fill us, enabling us to handle the hard, tough things of this world—the job, the volunteer opportunity, the leadership position, a witnessing opportunity—or whatever hard thing He calls us to.

I’m encouraged to know a God that sees past my excuses. His presence gives me a good dose of God-esteem in my life. Knowing Him makes me more confident in the tasks I am called to do. And best of all, when the hard things are done, He gets the credit. I can’t do it without Him.
 
QUOTE: “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.” — G. K. Chesterton.  Lord help us to be unafraid and faithful to the hard things You call us to.

"Whom do I have in heaven but you? I desire no one but you on earth. My flesh and my heart may grow weak, but God always protects my heart and gives me stability,” Psalm 73:25-26 NET.

Today’s devotion is by Gina Stinson, wife to Bruce, mom to Savannah and Tucker, pastor’s wife, founder of The Mission in Gunter, TX, and publicist assistant for Kathy Carlton Willis Communications.