We tend to believe that God's plan for us is hidden in our natural abilities. We look to those things that we are good at, as clues to our meaning in life. But what happens when God’s plan turns our lives upside down? What happens when He calls us to do something that we've never done before?
Usually, we point to our inefficiency, right? In my case, all I could think of was the ways in which I fell short of His call. But as I walked with God, I realized that none of that matters, because when it comes to walking in purpose, our lack of ability is actually working for us. I know this sounds counter-intuitive, it makes more sense that our deficiencies would hinder our advancement, but this isn't so when it comes to the kingdom of God.
The power of God dwells in our deficiencies.
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT)
Our inability sets the stage for the glory of God to be displayed in our lives. This is why His call is always larger than us. This is why His plans seem so unattainable. And this is why we often run from the assignments that He gives us.
Yes, we want God's plan for our lives, but when we are faced with His plan, it can be a bit overwhelming. All we can think of is how our abilities don’t measure up. We compare our circumstances with His call, and we can’t reconcile the two. And so, since we are unable to make sense of it all, we give into our fear that it won’t work out. We turn back. Or, we tell ourselves that we never heard God in the first place. It’s hard to believe in those things that are unseen, the things that our natural mind can’ t make sense of. But I want you to know that these thoughts and feelings of inadequacy come with the territory. Those feelings, when you feel like you can’t do what God asks of you, are necessary. This is the only way that you will get to the place where you are totally reliant on God.
If we are to walk in faith, we must come to a resolve within ourselves that says, “I can’t, but God can.”
This is it. This is how we are able to walk in purpose, in faith. It is okay to have the realization that you can't do it. But you mustn’t stop there. You must not allow this to be the conclusion.
Recognizing your limits opens the door to realizing that God is limitless.
It’s not until we come to the end of ourselves, that we can realize that God is everything that we are not. And then, we can remind ourselves that God is able to do those things which we can not. But there’s more. It’s not just that God has the power to do anything… He desires for us to know this. And I don’t just mean conceptually. God wants us to experience His power in our lives. He doesn’t want us to just speak of the power that we’ve read about in the bible. He wants us to speak of the power that He’s display before us. This is our testimony.
This was the case when God delivered the Israelites from the hands of the Egyptians. Yes, they knew who God was. Like us, the had heard stories from their ancestors. They knew the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. They knew that God had given them a promise, but their lives showed no evidence of that. They were enslaved, a reality that must have been hard to reconcile with their promise. But when God displayed His power before them, and rescued them, they gained a personal testimony that would ultimately be passed down to the generations after them. And this, is what God wants for our lives.
But the process that led to the Israelites freedom did not begin with such confidence. When God spoke to Moses, and told him that he would lead the Israelites out of captivity, Moses did not respond in excitement. Moses was not confident that he could accomplish the task that God had given him. As a matter of fact, Moses’s reaction was the complete opposite.
But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11 NLT)
But 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?” (Exodus 3:13 NLT)
But 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 NLT)
But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “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.” (Exodus 4:10 NLT)
But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.” (Exodus 4:13 NLT)
Moses protested God's call five times. He was afraid to step up and lead the Israelites because he knew that he didn’t have what it would take to get the job done. Over and over he pleaded with God; he explained his concerns and deficiencies. He asked God to send anyone else besides him, but God refused. God had not chosen Moses because of his ability; this was His plan all along. And since Moses had come to the conclusion that he could not complete his assignment in his own strength, he knew that he would have to be solely reliant on God.
God can use us, even when we don’t believe that we have what it takes.
Although Moses lacked confidence in himself, God used him. And surprisingly enough, Moses’s lack of confidence worked in his favor.
Our confidence should be in God, not ourselves.
Moses didn’t need to be confident in himself, He needed to be confident in God. Every miraculous act that Moses performed as he led the Hebrews out of captivity was because of his confidence in God. When Moses was afraid that the Israelites would not believe that God had sent him, God gave him three miracles to perform. He told Moses that these miracles would convince the Israelites that the Lord had sent him.
Then Moses and Aaron returned to Egypt and called all the elders of Israel together. Aaron told them everything the Lord had told Moses, and Moses performed the miraculous signs as they watched. Then the people of Israel were convinced that the Lord had sent Moses and Aaron. When they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped. (Exodus 4:29-31 NLT)
Moses did not arrive in Egypt on his own accord. He was sent there as God’s representative. God had an assignment that he needed completed in the earth, and he intended to use Moses to get it done. And Moses knew this. Moses knew that his authority to lead the Israelites to freedom had come from God. Moses knew that it would have to be the power of God working through him in the situation. Moses knew that he was a vessel in the hands of the Lord. And as he went to Pharaoh to seek freedom for the Israelites, he kept all of this in mind. As God’s ambassador, Moses was careful to follow the instructions that God gave him.
When we walk according to the purpose that God has called us to, we are working as ambassadors of Christ.
We must understand that our authority comes from God, and that we are working on His behalf. This means that we are not the leader, God is. And this means that we have no authority or power apart from Him. But there is good news. This also means that we don’t have to carry the burden of making God's plans a reality. We don’t have to use our effort or strength, because it would be futile anyways.
Our job is to seek God, obey His instructions, and trust that He will do His part.
That was Moses’s role in this story. He went to God when He didn’t know what to do. He obeyed God’s instructions, and He acted in faith, trusting that God would do His part.
As the Israelites escaped captivity, they quickly realized that their journey to freedom wasn’t over yet. Pharaoh vowed not to let them get away; he ordered his army to pursue them. And as the Israelites feared for their lives, they ran into an impossible situation. With the Egyptians on one side, and the Red Sea on the other, they were out of options. But Moses knew where to turn; he knew that this was God’s fight.
But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” (Exodus 14:13-14 NLT)
This rescue mission was God’s idea. He was the One that wanted to see the children of Israel free, so He had an obligation to protect them.
God always provides for His plans.
So Moses didn’t have to figure out a way to get the Israelites to safety. He cried out to God, and God responded with instructions. God told him to raise his staff over the sea.
Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side! (Exodus 14:21-22 NLT)
Through Moses’s obedience, God saved Israel, and He provided for their every need. For instance, when the Israelites found themselves in the wilderness, without water to drink, God made a way.
The Lord said to Moses, “Walk out in front of the people. Take your staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile, and call some of the elders of Israel to join you. I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink.” So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on. (Exodus 17:5-6 NLT)
But this wasn’t the only time that God supernaturally provided water from a rock. Later in the story, as they cried out in thirst to Him, He again gave Moses a set of instructions.
“You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.” (Numbers 20:8 NLT)
The only problem is that this time, Moses did not follow God’s instructions. Moses struck the rock with his staff, instead of speaking to the rock as God instructed.
Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!” (Numbers 20:11-12 NLT)
Why did God rebuke Moses and Aaron, and forbid them from entering the promises land? Because they had forgotten that their strength came from God, and God alone. By disobeying God, they had acted in their own understanding, believing that they had the ability to bring water from the rock on their own. And although God performed the miracle, Moses had lost his way. Moses had forgotten who his source was. He had forgotten how his journey started. He had forgotten his resolve that said, “I can’t, but God can.” He failed to stay grounded; he allowed himself to believe that he had the ability to do what only God could do.
Walking in purpose requires humility.
When we know that we can do nothing without the power of God working in us, we make ourselves available to be used by Him. And only then, can we do all the things that He has planned for us.
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13 NLT)
But it's not just how we begin this journey of faith, that matters. We can never forget that we are God’s ambassadors, sent here to do His work. So as we walk in the purpose that He has for us, we must remember that He’s our source. He is the reason that we do what we do.
Without Him, we can do nothing. But with Him, we can do everything.
As long as we keep our eyes on Him, obey His instructions, and trust that He will provide, He will always do His part. We don’t have to have all the answers, as long as we walk the path that He’s set before us. We don’t have to have the strength, as long as we depend on Him. And we don’t have to worry about what lies ahead, because His plan always prevails.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for the plans that you have for my life. Thank you for creating me for a purpose, and for giving me the ability to walk in purpose. Today, I am reminded that I need You. I am reminded that I can’t walk this path of faith without you. I don’t have the ability to do Your will on my own. But with you, I can accomplish anything. So right now, I turn my face to you, and I realign myself in your will. I want only those things that you planned for me, and I desire to see your will done through my life. God, you are my source. You are the reason that I am here, and I will use my life to glorify you. In Jesus name, amen.
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