As we live our life from day to day and week to week, going about our normal routines, we may feel fairly secure in our abilities. Because we are creatures of habit, we easily settle into the mundane yet safe-feeling rhythm of our daily patterns. When things are going well, we can easily lull into a spiritual sleepiness, feeling overly comfortable in the predictability of our life, taking credit for the ease of this phase in life. However, when God interrupts our comfortable arrangement by giving us a hearty spiritual shake, we are jolted awake and our world is turned upside down. As He gives us a brisk splash of living water in the face, we are forced to wake up from our daze and listen to His booming voice as He calls us into action. When we realize that He is calling us to a certain service, we may resist at first, abruptly feeling how stiff our spiritual muscles are from lack of stretching and exercise. As we come to see how we cannot avoid the task at hand, we may begin to feel intensely insecure and timid, shrinking away from what seems like an impossible feat. But we must remember that the Lord has chosen us, and uniquely us, for this job because in His infinite wisdom He knows that we are the only ones suited to accomplish His goals. Praising Him for honoring us with this calling and believing in us more than we believe in ourselves, we can begin to relieve some of our anxiety at the prospect of this task. We need not be qualified for what He asks of us, because we are simply a mouthpiece for our Father and a disciple of His words, if we allow Him to shape us, speak through us, and act through us. He will help us and be our strength all along the way, teaching us and giving us the words and wisdom to carry out His will. Submitting to the Holy Spirit within us, giving way to His guidance rather than grappling with our own minds, we can feel His desires flourish in us and guide our every step. When He asks us to do something, He will provide us with all we need, and equip us perfectly and wholly, preparing us in any and all ways necessary so that we can bear fruit if we abide in Him and trust Him. When we feel uncertain or apprehensive, we can have confidence in our privilege of going to our loving Father for help, knowing that He will never turn us away, but instead hold our hand and strengthen us in our time of need. No matter what He asks of us, we can always be confident that through Him all things are possible.

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

“But Moses said to the LORD, ‘Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.’ Then the LORD said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.’” Exodus 4:10-12

“May he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever!” Amen. Hebrews 13:21

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service.” 1 Timothy 1:12

“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16