I recently started a Beth Moore study entitled “A Woman’s Heart, God’s Dwelling Place.” One of the verses we read during the first week focused on God’s call to Abram in Genesis 12:1:
The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.’
Well, yikes. That’s a lot of leaving. God was asking Abram to give up a great deal.
Beth Moore had this to say about the passage:
Have you noticed that God often requires us to leave our comfort zones to answer our calling? That through which God hones us is rarely within the parameters of the familiar.
“Yes!” I wanted to shout, when I read that. I have noticed. And noticed. And noticed.
Raising kids (especially teenagers) has pushed me out of my comfort zone. So has writing books for God’s glory.
You see, I can’t write books. I don’t have the time or the energy or the vision or the ability required. I really don’t. I’m very aware of this fact, and so it’s incredibly scary in some ways to sign a contract saying that I’ll deliver a book I’ve yet to write on some future date. I’m not even a talented plotter! When I open a Word document to begin a new story, I don’t have much of a clue about what’s going to happen or why.
The only thing that enables me to sign contracts for future books? Faith. Each day when I write, I step out in faith, trying my best to believe that the Lord will supply the time, the energy, the vision, and the ability I need to get me through that day.
Dr. Jim Denison, my former pastor, used to say:
Take on something so big you’ll fail unless God is in it.
That’s a scary instruction, isn’t it? We don’t like to take on things so big that we’ll fail. We’d rather take on things we can safely accomplish in our own power. However, if we stick to things we can accomplish in our own power, we don’t give God a chance to do the mighty things through us that only He can do.
As Abram discovered later in the Old Testament, the God who’d called Him was faithful to equip him and could be counted upon to keep his promises. When God calls us to do something for Him, and we answer with obedience, our insufficiency collides with God’s sufficiency. And in that moment, and in all the moments that follow as we continue to roll up our sleeves and make ourselves available for His work, we learn that His sufficiency is far, far more than enough.
That doesn’t mean the work isn’t hard. The work is often hard, ladies. Really hard. But, in Him, the One who’s conquered hard things, the work becomes do-able.
2 Corinthians 13:9 says:
We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong
It’s in my weakness that I’ve found His strength in my life. Is it the same for you?
I’m pondering these truths this week, as I rewrite my next novel for the final time. I’m amazed afresh at the evidence that God was able to write yet another book through me. He’s been trustworthy so many times in the past and he’s shown himself to be The Trustworthy One yet again. His sufficiency is especially meaningful to me this time, because I was struggling with some digestive issues last spring when I was on deadline for this book. I was physically weak at times. I couldn’t seem to find the heart of this story with a flashlight at times. I disliked a huge element of the rough draft of this book, so I tore the manuscript apart and rewrote it completely before submitting it to my editors.
And yet. And yet God got it done. In His strength. I can see it as I read back over it. I can see where He showed up, and layered His truths into this story… despite me.
He is the author of all things.
I love this quote from Christian Watchman Nee that’s embedded in Lisa Whittle’s Put Your Warrior Boots On:
God never asks us to do anything we can do. He asks us to live a life which we can never live and to do a work which we can never do. Yet, by his grace, we are living it and doing it.
Amen! Amen on this Friday morning.
When has the Lord called you to leave your comfort zone in His service?
Becky Wade
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Love love love!!! My favorite “thsts a lot of leaving” thought you were going a completely different direction, one that would make me feel comfortable, alas, no.
Signed,
Inadequate To Even Write This Comment 😉
A Watson
Dear Inadequate To Even Write This Comment,
I’m very glad that you stopped by the blog and wrote your comment. 🙂 I’m happy to know that this post spoke to you.
Sincerely, Also Inadequate
The feeling when God comes through for us is wonderfully overwhelming. God so loved us….
I am working on a teaching project and I have not taught before, so I am relying on Him to show up and I know He will and He gets the glory. Amen!
Amen! May God show up for you in big ways, Jennifer.
One of my fave Beth Moore studies!
I’ve heard it’s fabulous! This study was the first one that the ladies of our Wednesday evening church Bible study tackled — 10 years ago. They wrote in the first workbook and watched the first series of videos. Now, to celebrate their 10th anniversary, the leader decided to revisit the revised and updated workbook and videos. This is my first time to do it and I’m excited!
I needed to read this. Thanks Becky.
You’re welcome, Lynn. 🙂
Thank you for putting the important things in life into perspective. It truly is all about God! So embarrassing to realize how often I forget that truth. Great post!
Thanks! It’s so easy to get wrapped up in our own agendas and forget the truths that matter in the busy-ness of it all. That’s something I struggle with constantly.
Thanks for such very inspirational words, Becky. So much to think about!
You’re welcome, Betty! Thanks for stopping by the blog.
Thank you. I needed to read this today. I’ve been struggling – completely outside my comfort zone living in a new place where I don’t know anyone, trying to find a church, house hunting, and getting lost every time I try to take my toddler to do something fun. It’s just little things, but thank you for reminding me that our family took this step in faith and I need to allow God to “show Himself to be The Trustworthy One yet again” and focus on His sufficiency rather than my insufficiencies.
Yes! May He show himself to be the Trustworthy One to you and your family, Nicole.
Earlier this year my church was starting up Titus 2 Women groups, consisting of two older women and up to eight younger women, to begin a mentoring journey. This was way out of my comfort zone (I’m one of the older ladies) but I really felt I was supposed to do this. And every time these ladies come to my house I am so aware that I am not able to do this on my own, but only by God’s power to work through us. Thank you for letting God use you to write books!
Thank you for letting God use you to mentor younger women, Linda! What a wonderful ministry.
God is so good at moving us out of our comfort zone. I would say my biggest one was when my boys were little and I needed to make money to continue staying home with them. The Lord brought me my Premier jewelry business and I was so scared to death. I am an introvert and the whole idea of showing jewelry to ladies who probably knew way more about it than me was horrifying. That was 26 years ago and i am still going strong with my business. Now, my comfort zone is doing this whole social media and facebook parties. God is always moving us on isn’t He?
Exactly, Dana! He’s always moving us on. He’s never stagnant (even when we’d like to be). 😉 I love the testimony you shared.
Thank you so much for your honesty- I can’t tell you how much you have encouraged me! After hearing so many writers share their writing methods, I’ve felt too disorganized and just plain lacking what it takes to actually write a whole book. As I considered what you are saying, I realized that’s just how I have managed to write scripts and direct plays…relying on Him to carry out His plans through me. Thank you for the inspiration!
My pleasure! Yep, getting the work done is about shouldering aside the feelings of intimidation and inadequacy so that God can guide and equip. I have faith that He CAN write a book through you.
Becky, what a beautiful writing. It brought tears to my eyes. YES, God gives us the strength we need to get through anything. I discovered that through the death of my son, Brad. There was a peace beyond understanding. I knew it was from Him. He will bring you through it!
Thank you so much, Kim. God bless!