Courtney Gilmore Have you ever felt God calling you to do something, but did not want to, so you just ignored Him? I’m not talking about being unsure and praying and waiting to know for certain what God wants. I’m asking if you have ever known God was calling you to something, but instead of doing it, you dug in your heels.
We all know what this looks like with other people, right? When we are asked to do something that we don’t want to do, we avoid it, act like we don’t know, make excuses, and put it off. But after a while, the excuses don’t work anymore, and the avoidance is met with nagging, and eventually, we end up doing what we were asked to do in the beginning.
It is no different with God. If He has something for you to do, He will keep prompting you, and you will probably be miserable until you obey.
Reluctantly Answering the Call
God called Jonah to Ninevah to preach repentance, but he ran in the opposite direction. Then, while on the boat, God sent a storm so fierce that it threatened the lives of everyone on board. Jonah knew it was his fault and convinced the men to throw him overboard to save themselves. So, God sent a big fish to swallow Jonah whole, preserving his life. He couldn’t even die to get away from his calling! After he repented of his own sin, God had the fish spit him out on the shore. Then, God told him again to go to Ninevah and preach repentance. So, Jonah realized that He obviously had no choice and went.
Esther was a Jew, though her husband, the King of Persia, did not know. When the lives of the Jews were being threatened, Esther’s uncle told her to go to the king and try to put a stop to it. But she was afraid. She could be killed if she went to him without being summoned. But her uncle explained that she would certainly be killed with the rest of the Jews if the edict passed, so she had to take the risk. He was basically telling Esther that this was her calling, and she could not avoid difficulty or death by refusing it. She really had no choice but to face her fear and obey her calling.
If we are going to end up doing it anyway, why go through all the nagging, feelings of guilt, trouble of making up excuses, and the work to avoid it? What do we gain by resisting God’s will?
Many are the plans in the mind of a man. But it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Proverbs 19:21
He Will Equip You
Whatever God has called us to, He has uniquely equipped us for.
May the God of peace… equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21
He can accomplish it through someone else, and He may if we continue to refuse, but this is not his will for us. When we don’t do what the Lord has called us to, we miss the blessing that comes with it. We never want to do good works for the accolades or to manipulate God into blessing us because He knows our hearts, but there are blessings in obedience. Jesus said, “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.” We were made for service to God and others.
We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.
Ephesians 2:10
Our Relationship with God
Not only that, but we owe Him. We can never repay the Lord for what He’s done for us, but if He was willing to die for us, the least we can do is live for Him.
He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
2 Corinthians 5:15
God can unilaterally do whatever He wants. He doesn’t need people to accomplish His will, but He wants us. We’re supposed to be His hands, feet, and mouth. He wants to work in cooperation with us.
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have no believed? How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? Then, how shall they hear without a preacher and how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!”
Romans 10:14-15
This is what having a relationship with Him is all about. He is not a King who sits on His throne and never mixes with the people. Our God loves us, and wants to be with us. He works on our behalf, but He also works in tandem with His people.
Answer the Call
So, whatever our apprehension, we need to be obedient without stipulations. If we are afraid, we should place our faith in Him. Jesus demonstrated this to His disciples one night when they were in the middle of the Sea. He had stayed on shore but then decided to go out to meet them. As Jesus walked towards them on top of the water, they were afraid it was a ghost. But when He told them it was Him, Peter asked to be given the ability to walk to Him on the water. Peter was able until he realized what was happening and took His eyes off of Jesus.
Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him and said, ‘Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?’
Matthew 14:31
God is with us. We just need to keep our eyes on Him and we will be fine. It may feel like we are drowning sometimes. But we don’t need to be afraid. We are not far from His reach.
Then, if it seems too hard or uncomfortable, we must push through, knowing we won’t avoid difficulty or discomfort by refusing to answer His call. Most likely, we will face more troubles if we put it off than if we submit to Him quickly and willingly.
You are Able
When we feel inadequate, we should trust that He chose us for a reason. He knows our strengths and weaknesses and still calls us each specifically. Human weaknesses are not limitations for God. When God called Moses to free the Israelites from Egypt, He asked the Lord to send someone else because he wasn’t a good speaker.
But the Lord said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord.
Exodus 4:11
God made us and He knows our capabilities. Paul wanted God to take away his weakness, thinking he could better serve him that way. But the Lord changed His mind by explaining what He does through our weaknesses.
He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you and My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Answer the Call
So, do not be passive. Take the initiative to do what needs to be done. Do not let someone else do what God has asked of you. Let Him work through you to accomplish His will. He may be calling you to a permanent or public ministry, or maybe it is something temporary or behind the scenes. We all have our own special gifts and even if it’s not our strength, God can work in our weaknesses. So let Him use you.
As we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; one who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Romans 12:4-8
If you are willing, then He is able. Be like Isaiah when he heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send and who will go for Us?” He said:
Here I am. Send me!
Isaiah 6:8
Links
This is an excerpt from “The Initiative of a Couple of Women: Answering the Call” as taught on YouTube, Podcast, and written on Substack. Read the beginning of the lesson for free. Or read it in its entirety, along with previous lessons over Deuteronomy, Joshua, and Judges for $6/month or $60/year. Once subscribed, you’ll receive one lesson each week thereafter by email. Cancel anytime.
All Podcasts
