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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 4:11

When I was 12 years old, I remember being asked to read out loud to the class in school. I had sweaty palms and I felt like the whole classroom could hear my thumping heartbeat. I found speaking out loud to an audience very challenging and difficult.

This struggle continued throughout university, in my working life and even in church. Whenever someone asked me to pray for them, I immediately rejected them and I would say, “No, I’m sorry I can’t. Please ask someone else.” The same fears I had when I was a child would resurface. Yet at the same time, there was an internal conviction that I really wanted to be a blessing to others through prayer since I had received so much of God’s love and comfort when others had prayed for me.

I shared the above desire and fears with a friend in care group, and God used her to help me start praying for others. She asked me to first start praying on my own out loud. After some time, she then encouraged me to pray one line prayers with a small group of trusted friends. Eventually, I got to a point where I was willing to say yes to anyone who asked for prayers. 

As you read though Exodus 4, you will find that Moses’ faith starts off so small – he even rejected being a mouthpiece of God at first. However, as you continue to read through the book, you find that Moses’ faith slowly grows in God until amazingly, Moses is able to speak with fearless passion and conviction against the Egyptians. God transformed his fears, his vulnerabilities and perceived foolishness into something that was used powerfully for God’s purpose. 

Is there something holding you back in being a blessing to others, or in your worship to God? Is the Lord pressing on your heart something He wants you to do, but you don’t because you feel unable to or worried about how others may perceive you?

Don’t be afraid. Trust God and let your desire to be a blessing overcome your fears. Jesus said, “Take heart! For I have overcome the world.” Start with small steps. You will arrive at your destination sooner than you know it and when you look back to see where you came from, you will surely give praise and glory to God! 

Let us start small by:

• Thanking God for being trustworthy and faithful. He not only calls us to follow Him, He also helps us and equips us to do so. 
• Asking God to help us take small steps to worship Him more fully and do His Kingdom’s work. Pray for the courage to trust Him because in Him there is victory over our fears.