Love That Never Fails

16. Dealing With Self Doubt

Have you ever felt inadequate or ill equipped for a particular task that was before you? We can all have moments of self doubt from time to time but as Christians we can be sure that we have every advantage as we serve God in the area He has planned for us to work in.  As we continue to follow Moses' interaction with God in Exodus, we see him caught up in self doubt, trying to convince God that He has picked the wrong man for the job of appealing to the Egyptian Pharaoh to let His people go. It's reassuring to hear the way God handles Moses' 'what if's' before he finally stepped into the important role that was planned for him.

"Moses answered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The Lord did not appear to you'?"

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." Then the Lord said, "Put your hand inside your cloak." So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, the skin was leprous —it had become as white as snow. "Now put it back into your cloak," he said. So Moses put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his flesh. Then the Lord said, "If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first sign, they may believe the second. But if they do not believe these two signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will become blood on the ground.""
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭4:1-9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

These amazing signs surely would have provided Moses with the reassurance he needed but as we read on, we see him wrestling with doubts that kept arising in his mind and he wasn't afraid to tell God. This time they were very personal, outlining what Moses considered to be a flaw in his speaking capabilities:

"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."

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 ‭4:10-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I love this reply from the Lord! It's one we should all remember whenever we feel inadequate. God loves us so much and since He made us, we can be sure He will help us to use our hands, feet, eyes, ears, lips and so on as we serve Him. We are not alone in the task ahead but fully equipped and ready for anything! God is with us through His indwelling Holy Spirit and continues to teach us all along the way.

Despite all of God's encouragement, Moses' fears really come to the surface:

"But Moses said, "Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.""
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭4:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Has this ever been your response when you've been asked to do something for the Lord within your church, home, neighbourhood or workplace? It is often easier to leave it to 'someone else' than to trust God to provide us with what we need to get the job done ourselves! God is so patient with us but it's not surprising to see how frustrating it was for Him to deal with Moses' continuing self doubt. However, God was determined to get Moses in the place He needed him, so provided support to get him going.

"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. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.""
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭4:14-17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Sometimes we all need this kind of 'spoon feeding' in order to see that God has our back and will be with us.  As 21st century Christians, we all have been given a task to do and it is very reassuring to remember that God is with us as we do our part in taking the good news of the gospel to those around us:

"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.""
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:18-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Let's pray:

Dear Lord,

Thank You for equipping me with all that I need to serve You. You have given me various gifts to use and have certainly provided me with a voice to speak and tell others the good news. I'm sorry for the times I have made excuses and tried to leave the work You have prepared for me to do, to someone else. Thank You for providing others to work alongside of me for support. I especially thank You for Your Holy Spirit given at Pentecost. Lord fill me with Your Spirit now as I serve You today so that many will come to know You.

For Your glory,
Amen.