Lord, Could You Send Someone Else?

Lord, Could You Send Someone Else?

[The Lord said to Moses,] “Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.” Exodus 4:12-13

I remember approaching the noisy classroom of an inner-city school my first year out of college. Facing thirty rowdy high school boys, most of them taller than I was, and seeing a desk fly out the window just as I walked in, I thought, Lord, could you send someone else to deal with these students? They were a formidable group of teens for a young, inexperienced teacher like me to handle.

Just as Moses experienced a wrestling match of emotions when God said to “Go!” so might we when we are asked to do something we don’t feel ready or able to perform. We look in the mirror and see only our faults and shortcomings. But we can be grateful that God views us in a much different light. He sees us through the kaleidoscope of promises placed inside us at conception. He sees us through Jesus.

As our creator, God knows the full range of the talents he gave us, and yet he is also aware of our disabilities. Moses focused on one aspect of the task—speaking—while God saw a much bigger picture. He understood the hardships and challenges ahead for this leader. He knew that Moses was not a skilled speaker, but he also knew that it was not Moses’ speaking ability that would lead God’s people through the wilderness. It was his faith and obedience that God would use to guide a multitude out of Egypt.

God can enable you as well when you obey him. Remember, just as a silver urn can be used to hold fine wine, so can a common crock. It’s what is on the inside that matters. God knows what you are capable of, and when he uses the ordinary to perform the extraordinary, he is the One who gets the praise and honor.

God gave me strength and even a love for my challenging students. I learned things during that difficult year that I’ve used throughout my ministry of speaking, writing, and instructing teachers and parents. —CHERI

Father, I’m an ordinary person, but I am so thankful to serve an extraordinary God! You made me, and you see things inside of me that I may not recognize yet. You also understand what is needed to complete the task. Help me to trust you to use me in extraordinary ways.

Do you have an impossible job to do? Has the Lord told you to do it? Go ahead! When we pray, we enter God’s domain from the domain of our inability.

—CORRIE TEN BOOM (1892–1983), HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR, AUTHOR