I like my comfort zone. I like to do things I’m good at. I like people to acknowledge the fact that I’m good at them. I like the feeling of accomplishment that comes when I’m “in the zone” in one of my gift areas. But I also know this – when I’m too comfortable, I get independent. And the problem is this: it becomes all about me. And God isn’t glorified when it’s all about me.
Exodus 4 tells us about the encounter Moses had with God at the burning bush. And guess what? God didn’t ask Moses to do something he was good at. He actually asked him to move way outside of his comfort zone. Moses balked. He wasn’t comfortable speaking in public, and God was calling him to lead a nation of people, speak to hostile leaders, be the voice of God to the oppressed?
He argued. And God answered. “The LORD said to him, ‘Who gave a mouth to man, or who makes a person mute or deaf or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? So now go, and I will be with your mouth and will teach you what you must say'” (Ex. 4:11-12). God promised to be with his mouth, his specific point of weakness.
When God asks us to move outside the realm of our natural giftedness, He is giving us a beautiful opportunity, a chance to see what happens when He empowers us for His glory. Is it scary? Yes!
Is there a chance that we won’t get the accolades for how “good” we are at this new thing? Absolutely. Might people question our sanity? Maybe.
But if it is God who speaks, we can move forward in the knowledge that He will empower our point of weakness. He will meet us exactly where we need Him to. And as we learn to lean heavily on Him, we will experience the beauty of living lives that naturally glorify Him. We will see Him do things in and through us that would be impossible any other way.
Does God want us to use our natural giftedness for Him? YES! A thousand times, yes! And it is a truly beautiful thing when we learn to take the areas in which God has already gifted us and completely surrender them to His control. Amazing things can happen!
There is a reason He has given us our specific talents, and when He is allowed to use them unhindered, His Kingdom is blessed and enhanced because of them.
I am constrained to say something to the conscientious among us. God is a gentleman. It is not His desire to humiliate His children. While He likely will ask us to step out of our comfort zone, He is not glorified by the wild, crazy or sensational for sensational’s sake. You can trust Him.
He is not interested in “making a fool of you.” I’ve been through some of those impressions. Relax, my friend. He will guide you faithfully. His voice is patient and persistent. Just like Moses knew exactly what God was asking of him, you will as well.
Our God is a good and faithful God. When He asks you to step out into an area in which you are not “comfortable”, there’s a very good reason, and you will have a front row seat to His good, good plans.
Originally published in God’s Revivalist. Used by permission.
