Encouragement for Today

February 20, 2025 But, Lord, I Can’t Do THAT LYSA TERKEURST Lee en español

“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.’” Exodus 4:10 (NIV)

Do you ever feel like who you are is not enough to carry out God’s purposes for your life?

Our insecurities may differ, but we all have them. These qualities about ourselves that make us lack confidence or assurance can be a positive call to action to make healthy changes in our lives. However, insecurities can also hold us back from stepping into the assignments God calls us to.

That’s exactly what happened to Moses in our key verse today.

Moses knew with absolute certainty what God was calling him to do. God had confirmed it by speaking to him audibly through a burning bush: “Bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:10, NIV).

Moses knew exactly what to say, knew what God planned to do, knew God would be with him, and knew God would provide for the Israelites with plunder from the Egyptians. So what could hold him back when things seemed so very clear?

It was the same thing that sometimes holds you and me back: Moses doubted God had created him for the calling God gave him.

In Exodus 4:10, 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.”

The Lord replied with these powerful words: “Who gave human beings their mouths? … Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say” (Exodus 4:11-12, NIV).

God did more than answer Moses’ doubt; He reassured Moses of who He was.

When we doubt that we have what it takes to do what God calls us to do, we are doubting His creative abilities. He knew from the beginning of time what He would call us to do and how we would need to be formed. God does everything with purpose and precision.

The exact way He made you is in keeping with how He will use you.

Trust this. Embrace this. Even if you don’t know all the details of your calling quite yet, thank God for making you perfectly equipped for your assignments ahead.

And when insecurities start to make you doubt, flip the script and pray, God, I may doubt myself. But I will not doubt You. So I will let Your perfection override my feelings of imperfection, and I will do what You instruct me.

Like Moses, we can come to God with our doubts. God may not respond with the answer we want, but we can be confident He will remind us of who He is.

Heavenly Father, I confess that all too often, I doubt I have what it takes to do the things You have called me to do. Remind me I have been perfectly equipped for the assignments You have given me. Help me not to doubt or compare. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

This devotion is the first day of Lysa TerKeurst’s FREE resource, Chosen, Called & Confident: 5 Days of Believing God Can Use You. If you enjoyed today’s content, sign up to receive the remaining four days here! These gut-honest devotions from Lysa, coupled with powerful truths from God’s Word, will equip you to break free from the traps of comparison and envy by embracing the beautiful, unique gifts the Lord has placed specifically inside of you.

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

Psalm 139:14, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (NIV).

What assignments from God are you currently having a hard time stepping into? Does your hesitancy to obey have anything to do with insecurity? Prayerfully ask God to help you remember who He created you to be.

We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.

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