I was reading this morning in Jeremiah. The first part is the calling of the prophet and how he, sort of like Moses, says he can’t speak. Unlike Moses, though, Jeremiah claims that he is too young…just a youth. I love God’s response:
“Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’;
for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,
and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
8 Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
declares the Lord.”
God’s like, “Boy, don’t talk back to me. If I call you, I’ll cover you.” What’s even cooler is God’s, uh, “pre-sponse”. Before Jeremiah had even made his argument about being young, God had already laid the foundation for discrediting that response. God started the call with this:
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
So, right after that declaration from God, Jerry makes his claim about being too young. He missed that God had already said that Jeremiah was not a youth when he was called…he was a fetus! It’s like God was saying, “Son, you’re concerned that you are too young. You’re actually a whole lot older now than when I first called you. Don’t worry about age, I’ve got this.”
I’m at the age now where being too young isn’t so much the issue :-/ The problem is too often realizing inadequacies. I’m not ______________ enough. I’m too _______________. With every excuse, God has already dealt with it on the cross. That’s the glory of being inadequate…it leaves plenty of room for God to show off His infinite adequacy! That’s just the way He planned it. So run with it.
The reality is, there is NOTHING too bad that God’s mercy in Christ hasn’t already covered. His Spirit has already taken up the slack! Move with confidence. Speak with boldness. Love with abandon.
Yes and Amen!!!