Stepping Out of Our Comfort Zone

Who is your favorite person in the Bible aside from Jesus?

Whenever I am asked that question, I always seem to have a different answer. David, Ruth, Boaz, Esther, Daniel, Peter, John the apostle, John the Baptist, Stephen. But the two biggies for me are Moses and Paul. There are many, many reasons why these individuals are my favorite. But there is one thing that both Moses and Paul had in common that I love. Both were not eloquent in speech. Yet, they made an impact.

Moses

The Lord gave Moses a mission. A mission to go to Pharaoh to bring His people out of Egypt and lead them to the promised land. But how did Moses respond to this call? This mission? In Exodus 4:10 it says, “Moses said to the Lord, ‘Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.'” In a few verses after that, Moses pleaded with God to let him out of what God was calling him to do.

Paul

The book of 2 Corinthians is about defending Paul’s authority as an apostle. In the process, Paul refutes the false teachers as well. These false teachers were probably trained in an eloquent speech, for they were spreading, and sharing a false message through smooth talk and false information that just sounded good to the people in Corinth. These false teachers were viewed as highly educated, and “super”, and these teachers used Paul’s speech against him because of it. Yet, in 2 Corinthians 11: 5-6, Paul states, “I do not think I am in the least inferior to those ‘super-apostles.’ I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.”

I love this so much. Because, like Paul, I have an easier time “speaking” through my writing than I do verbally. And, like Moses, I often get scared and plead with the Lord not to do something he is calling me to do, just because I panic when what he wants me to do has to do with speaking. I am shy, reserved, awkward, and at times I do experience anxiety when speaking to others. I am definitely not one to stand up in front of others and share, that’s for sure.

Maybe you are like me when it comes to speech? Or maybe you shy away from another aspect like teaching, singing, hospitality, even serving? What aspect do you get anxious about when God is calling you to it? Here is the thing. Moses still went and did what God was calling him to do. Paul was still effective in his ministry. They accepted their inadequacies and stepped out in faith. It is one of the reasons why they are my favorite.

Sometimes God will ask us to do something that requires us to step out of our comfort zone to get the job done. Will you do something with me? Next time God does ask us, let us not focus on our weak parts. Let us instead focus on God. He will help us get the job done. He will provide us the strength, courage, and ability to do what it is he is calling us to do. We need to be willing to let God help, we need to step out in faith and just do it. He is with us after all.

The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say

Exodus 4:11-12

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