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Have you ever been asked to do something for which you felt very inadequate? Over forty years ago, the pastor of a tiny church wanted me to be the main teacher in a Christian school they would be sponsoring. I had been a happy stay-at-home mum up to that point, and only acted as a substitute teacher occasionally in the public school where my husband, Terry, taught. Working full-time was a different prospect. Why would God pick me, if that's what He did, when my job at home was not yet done? Our youngest son was still only four years old, and needed me.
I had surprised myself once, when I told someone that, in the future, I wanted to teach in a Christian school. That thought had been shelved to the back of my mind. As plans for the small church school went forward, I was plagued with doubts.
One January I lay in bed, sick. I rarely got sick enough to lie in bed, day after day. I was humbled by the fact that I could do nothing, and that Terry had to come home from work and make dinner. I had lots of time to think. Was God really calling me to manage this small Christian school, or was this just the pastor's idea? I wrestled with my thoughts as I lay in bed, and felt totally inadequate for the task ahead.
Moses, too, felt inadequate when God spoke to him from a bush in the desert that appeared to be burning up, yet was not consumed. God wanted him to do an important task, to lead the enslaved Israelites out of Egypt, back to the land God had promised them. Moses protested, “Why me?” He supplied God with a number of excuses. First of all, he didn't speak fluidly. It seemed like an overwhelming job for one person. And how would it be possible that the entire Israelite nation would leave with all the wealth of the Egyptians, who would end up giving it to them gladly? Moses was full of doubts.
God revealed Himself to Moses as El Shaddai, God Almighty. He was the God who would lead Moses and the Israelites out of Egypt. He showed Moses that he could use his staff to perform miracles, and allowed him to take his brother, Aaron, as a spokesperson. Nothing would be too hard for Moses when God was with him. ( See Exodus 3,
14:1-17 .)
As I lay in bed, God revealed more of His nature to me through another Biblical setting. In the feeding of the 5,000 ( See Matthew 14:13-21), Jesus took the ordinary lunch that had been offered to Him, and did something extraordinary with it. That small amount of food was multiplied supernaturally to go a long way among so many people. Over the next few years, I learned to trust God's unlimited resources. They would be more than enough for the challenges ahead. I would embrace Jesus' words when He said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT) I invite you to do the same in challenging situations.
Lord, thank you that You are El Shaddai, God Almighty, the God of more than enough. Help us to remember Your power and resources when we are overwhelmed with our own inadequacies. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Alice Burnett
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
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