Name the first thing that comes to mind. GO…

“Write” is my answer.  Do you know how many years it took me to start this blog? How many excuses I made for why I wasn’t equipped or the right person to blog and write a book [one day]? Far too often thoughts of “what the heck do you think you’re doing?” creep and I want to crawl in a hole and hide. Less than .01% of aspiring writers actually become published. It’s a hard business. And every day I read blogs by better, more accomplished writers. Maybe your dream is similar to mine. Far-fetched. Seemingly impossible. Unrealistic based on ‘natural’ ability. Do you make excuses for why it can’t be done?

Perry Noble, one of my favorite bloggers and pastors, was asked a similar question and out flew the words, “I would plant a church.” He had never been to seminary. He was a self-proclaimed country boy. He lived in a small, rural town [not ideal for starting a huge church]. It didn’t make a lick of sense for him to start a church. But somewhere deep inside he felt a calling-something he must do. A few years later, New Spring Church was born and now has 5 campuses in South Carolina with tens of thousands of members and hundreds of new people accepting Jesus every week. Perry says he stopped focusing on what he could do…and started focusing on what he was called to do.

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is about Moses. He led an entire NATION of people out of slavery. He held up a staff and God parted The Red Sea for the Israelites to escape. God used him for the extraordinary. But do you know the back story? How he was called?God appeared to him in a burning bush and told Moses of his assignment: Go to Pharaoh and tell him to let the Israelites go.

Instead of being humbled that God would choose him, he focused on his inability and started making excuses:

“Who am I?” Basically, God are you crazy for choosing me? (Exodus 3:11)

“But I don’t know your name.” [ I don’t have the knowledge] (Exodus 3:13)

“But what if they say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?” (Exodus 4:1) [what if I look like an idiot?] The Lord demonstrated miracles to show how Moses can prove himself to Pharaoh. You would think Moses would throw up his hands and surrender, right? But he gave one more excuse…

“I have never been eloquent…and am slow of speech and tongue.”[I don’t have the natural ability…and others do.] Moses begged God to send someone in His place. (Exodus 4:13) Are you in the midst of making excuses?

Why does God call ordinary, underqualified people to do his work? Because it drives us to our knees in dependence on him and everyone around can say Only God. He gets the glory, not us.

Failure isn’t an option. If God is behind something, you won’t and can’t fail. Period.

When did God ever call anyone in the Bible to do something that was easy? That made sense? That was safe? From Noah building the ark to David slaying Goliath to Paul going from murdering Christians to preaching the Gospel-God doesn’t choose us because we’re adequately equipped or have all the answers.

Maybe the desire that burns deep within you is exactly what you are called to do. Why not take a leap of faith into the unknown?

What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?

Failure isn’t an option. You just have to take the first step.

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