MP900178845[1]Have you ever told God no? You knew He was prompting you to step out in faith and do something, but you responded with a big, emphatic NO! What held you back from following His leading?

When God laid out His plan for Moses in the desert and told Moses to go back to Pharaoh and lead His people out of bondage in Egypt (Exodus 3-4), Moses’ first response wasn’t, Yes, Lord! Instead, he told God no. These were his reasons why he couldn’t (his excuses):

I’m inadequate. I’m a nobody. I’m not famous or a strong leader or particularly gifted.

I don’t know enough. What if I can’t answer their questions?

What if they reject me? I don’t want to fail.

I’m not gifted in this area. It’s a weakness in my life.

I just really don’t want to do it. Send someone else.

Feeling a sense of inadequacy is not bad in itself. It becomes a hindrance when we let that feeling of inadequacy hold us back from following God’s leading. But feeling inadequate can be a strength when we admit we can’t do things in our own strength and we are desperately dependent on Him. Then we can see Him work through us in our inadequacy. His strength is magnified in our weakness.

God had an answer for all of Moses’ reasons for saying no (excuses).

I’m not adequate.
God’s response: I will be with you.

I don’t know enough.
God’s response: I AM enough.

I’ll be rejected.
God’s response: I will empower you.

I’m weak in this area.
God’s response: I will make you effective.

Send someone else.
God’s response: No. But I will give you a helper.

The Holy Spirit is our Helper. We are never alone in following God’s leading.

When I first came to interview at First Evan, I went back to Dallas and told God, No. It wasn’t a fit for me. I didn’t want to leave my comfort zone and friends in Dallas and move to a new city. I didn’t want to fail and disappoint Him (and First Evan) if I couldn’t do the job. What if they don’t like me?

But God quickly answered all my excuses and made it clear that He wanted me to say yes. I’m so glad I did. Like Moses, I would have missed out on God’s blessings had I stayed where I was.

Perhaps God is leading you to do something today, and you’ve told Him no. What reasons are you giving Him for not being able to say yes? How would God respond to your reasons?

“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

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