Take God At His Word

“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. _{LUKE 5:24,25}

We all have doubts from time to time regarding our own ability. God speaks to us clearly, but instead of responding like Samuel, we allow fear to creep in and we respond more like Moses. We want to say, ‘speak, for you servant hears’ but what comes out is our own version of, ‘who am I that I should go… they will not believe me or listen…I am not eloquent… oh Lord, please send someone else.’ (Exodus 3/4)

When Moses thought of his own physical ability in connection with God’s task, he became paralysed with doubt and fear. In that first conversation, no matter what God said, Moses could not see beyond his own ability. Have you experienced this? Have you ever felt inadequate for the task the Lord has put before you? Fear and doubt affect us all and sometimes we hold on to that paralysis, not willing to believe it can change, or even that we deserve it to change.

The truth of every situation is that God will never ask you to do anything that he will not supply the strength and power needed for you to do it. When Jesus spoke to the paralysed man in Luke 5, the man, who had legitimate reason to doubt, instead chose to believe the challenge to be possible, for he immediately rose up and walked home. What faith.

The Lord knows you, and he sees the great potential you have when you walk with him. When God says, ‘Rise up’, he is saying – ‘Rise up in my power and my strength, for my presence will go with you.’

Take God at his word and trust his providence. When He calls, answer; when he offers his hand, take it in confidence.