Setting Your Excuses on Fire || What is Courage || Part 4 (FINALE)

We’ve spent 3 Saturdays on different characters in the Bible and the courage they needed to experience. So, now what?

Moses offered a bunch of excuses to God about why he couldn’t lead the Israelites out of Egypt. These five excuses seem to stumble on status, confidence, courage, and speech. He first thought, who am I to tell Pharoah to let these people go. Then he brought up whom am I going to say sent me because he obviously couldn’t say this fiery talking bush. Then it was what if they don’t listen. Then it was, what if I don’t say the right thing. By this time, I imagine a situation like this:
Moses: “Okay, but God…”
God: “Now what?”

It takes courage, though, to believe in yourself. It takes courage to believe that I can do what God calls me to do. It takes courage to jump outside of your comfort zone to fulfill God’s calling. We use the same excuses Moses does. Let me know if these phrases sound familiar: “I’m not good enough to do X.” “I don’t have what it takes to do X.” “Who am I to try and do X.” “I can’t say X in front of a crowd.” We make excuses to get out of what God calls us to do because we don’t dare to do it. It’s easier to put ourselves down and make ourselves small than lift ourselves and do the big, scary thing. It takes courage to do that.

It also takes courage to say, “I can’t.” We never want to admit that we can’t do something because it shows we’re weak or inadequate. So, we make up these excuses to validate our lack of courage. God sees those weaknesses and turns them into strength. Read God’s response to all of Moses’ excuses, and it shows that what Moses believes he’s weak in, God can and will strengthen him. God can and will strengthen you too. It just takes courage to ask.

So, when you are in situations that require courage. Ask God for what it could become. Ask God how you should navigate this and connect that with the gifts from Holy Spirit to let the path form in front of you. Spoiler alert: Moses still got all the Israelites out of Egypt. If you could gain the courage, so can you!