Are You Headed to the Promised Land or Dying in the Desert?

Whether you’re thinking about quitting your job to start a business, planning to launch a ministry or nonprofit, write a book, or any other ambitious goal, one of the biggest things that can get it our way is that four-letter word called fear. Fear that we don’t know enough. Don’t have enough. Or that we, ourselves, are not enough.

When God gave Moses the assignment of delivering the Israelites from Egypt in Exodus 4, Moses had plenty of excuses – I mean reasons – why he wasn’t up for the challenge. He wasn’t a good enough speaker. People wouldn’t believe that he really heard from God. And even though God answered every objection, Moses still didn’t want to do it. As you’ll recall, God grew angry with Moses and all of his excuses.

Is God growing angry with you?

Just because you don’t have all the answers doesn’t mean that God hasn’t equipped you with exactly what you need to accomplish His will for your life. He’s telling you to move, yet you’re waiting for every circumstance in your life to line up perfectly before you do. This same lack of faith in God’s ability to do what He said He will do is what kept Moses from entering the Promised Land. And it may be the reason why you’re still wandering in the wilderness.

The actions of Mary, the Mother of Jesus in Luke 1:26-38 serve as a stark contrast to Moses’ early actions. When the angel Gabriel appeared to the virgin and told her she would give birth to a child, her response was “May it be to me as you have said.” No arguments. No excuses. 

When God was calling me to start my first company, I didn’t have it all figured out. But to this day, as long as I move on whatever step He’s telling me to take –no matter how insignificant – my business thrives. When I drag my feet or fail to follow His instructions explicitly, challenges appear.

Remember this – fear and faith can’t exist in the same space. Isaiah 41:13 says, “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you”.  But the fleshly side of us often wants to know exactly how and when God is going to help us before we’re willing to move forward. But if we have the blueprint, does that really require faith?

So whose example will you follow – Moses or Mary?  No matter how big or scary the calling on your life may seem, what will you say to God? Will you offer excuses? Or will you say, “May it be to me as you have said”?

Choose your response wisely. It may mean the difference between dwelling in the Promised Land or dying in the desert.  Need an extra boost? Download my free action guide, Make Plans, Not Excuses.