But Moses said to God, “Who am I to go to Pharaoh and bring the people of Israel out of Egypt?” God said, “But I will be with you. Exodus 3:11-12

 

Patrick still remembers the first moment he held his newborn daughter and thought, “I’m not prepared for this! I have no idea how to care for this tiny, fragile human!”

Have you ever felt the panic that comes with being utterly unprepared? Maybe it’s an unexpected opportunity or promotion. You might be starting a relationship. It could be that God is calling you to new adventures that feel both thrilling and terrifying.

When God called a man named Moses to be a leader, Moses didn’t feel ready or qualified. Instead, he was reluctant and fearful, listing all his shortcomings that should disqualify him. God didn’t think any of Moses’s reasons diminished His ability to use Moses. And so, God reassured a terrified Moses with a simple promise that answered his every fear: “But I will be with you” (Exodus 3:12).

Jesus-follower, God speaks those exact words to you, today, as He gives you a calling that seems far too big for you to handle alone—like the calling to live “a holy life,” (2 Timothy 1:9), be “humble, gentle, patient with each other” (Ephesians 4:11-3), and the call to go into all the world, making disciples of all the nations, baptizing them…and teaching them to follow Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20).

“Who am I that you would call me?” you might be asking. If, like Moses, you’re listing all the reasons you’re not qualified, these words are for you. Jesus said, “…be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). That’s the promise that makes all the difference.

As you embark on or continue in the challenges of answering God’s call for your life, know this: God is with you. We need to remind each other of this truth over and over.