Fast forward a few years and my husband was asked to go on the middle school CIY trip with our son to be a chaperone. He went and loved it. He loved it so much he went back the next year. It was after that trip that the youth minister asked Mike to pray about serving as a youth leader in the high school ministry. Mike came home and asked me to pray about it too. Actually he asked me if we could serve together in that area. I think my response was something like, “I will pray about you serving in the high school ministry. I don’t plan to. I didn’t like high school, in fact it was awful for me. I feel like I am better with younger kids, not high school students.” However, the youth minister at that time preferred for couples to serve in the ministry together, due to the time commitment and felt if both partners were serving together it made a bigger impact on the students and the couple. We prayed about it. I reluctantly (very reluctantly) agreed to help after praying for a time. Mike felt like God was calling him to this area, and I didn’t want to stand in the way of that. He planned to lead a group, and I planned to support him. I was convinced that would be the extent of my serving. I didn’t want to lead a group, because I didn’t feel called to do that.

There was a man in the Bible that also was being called to something by God. Moses was born in a tumultuous time and was saved from death, to be called to help deliver the Israelites out of slavery in a land not their own. When Moses was called by God, he didn’t feel qualified to do what God was calling him to. (I encourage you to go read the whole story in the book of Exodus-you can learn all about Moses starting in Exodus 1) We will pick up in Exodus 3-God came to Moses in a burning bush. (I feel like if God came to me in a burning bush, I would listen-right??)

This is Moses’ first time questioning God in this account. Have you ever done that? Who am I that I should__________? (Fill in the blank)

God made it clear that He was sending Moses, and that He would be with Moses. In Exodus chapter 4 the questions still come from Moses. He asks God what if they don’t believe that you are the one who sent me. God ultimately provides some ways that they would believe that it was He who sent Moses-some very obvious ways that it could have only come from God. (Turning Moses’ staff into a snake when thrown on the ground, and Moses’ hand became leprous by putting it into his cloak-how cool is that??)

Moses still questioned him after these incredible signs.

Again the Lord answered him and said He would teach him what to say. After all that, Moses still said the words that stop me in my tracks-Please send someone else. You know why it stops me in my tracks? I have been guilty of saying that very same thing more than once. Maybe you have too.

Ultimately Moses and Aaron obeyed the Lord and after many speeches, signs and wonders, the Israelites were delivered out of slavery due to them answering the call. I don’t know how differently, if any, it would have gone if Moses had immediately said yes. I do know God still used him, and provided help for him. God was with Moses every step of the way. He provided everything Moses needed to deliver God’s people out of the hands of slavery.

Mike felt called and immediately prayed and obeyed. I didn’t feel that call, although all the signs were there. There was a need, I was asked (although not directly by God I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the youth minister’s wife said she felt like God told her to tell me that we would make great youth leaders long before Mike went on the trips to CIY), my husband and our youth minister asked us to pray, etc. My husband and I have been serving in the youth ministry since that time. Ten years later and I can’t tell you about any fantastic thing I have done-I haven’t delivered anyone out of slavery. BUT I can tell you my life has been blessed over and over by serving with these students. I know without a doubt that God would have used someone else had we not answered the call, but I can’t imagine our lives had we not. God has allowed us to develop many relationships through working with these students. One of the many amazing things that has happened is I have realized that the very things I was using as excuses, were the very things God would use me for. I struggled through many hard things in high school that God has allowed me to talk with some of these students about. Honestly just showing up for them is the biggest thing. Josh said in his sermon this past Sunday, “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.” I can attest to that. I still am in no way qualified to work with these students, but He equips me every single time with what I need to step in, step up and serve. He has been with me every single step of the way and has showed me that if I listen and obey He will lead and provide.

What about you? Is there something that God (or someone you are close to) is nudging you toward? Is there an area that you are being called by God to serve, and you don’t feel qualified to do? That’s okay! He can and will equip you to serve in the ways you think you never could. Just answer the call and watch Him work. You will be amazed!