I’m a shy girl who holds a microphone.

Ironic, isn’t it?

If you came over from Encouragement for Today, welcome! In this devo I shared how we can sometimes focus on our weaknesses when we feel God’s call, rather than His power.

Have you ever pointed to others, saying, “God, pick her”, instead of trusting that God knows exactly what He is doing?

I have, too. As I share five ways to overcome fear when you feel God is calling you, let’s begin with this first principle.

Shift the focus away from yourself.

Maybe I’ll always be the shy girl holding the microphone. But when I challenge God with “pick her”, I underestimate what God can do with that shyness.

That weakness is actually a strength in God’s hands. You see, I never get up and think, “I’ve got this.” Instead it’s an act of trust as I study, prepare, pray and then let God do what only He can do.

God knows your weaknesses. He’s not surprised by them. We don’t have to say “I stutter” or “I’m shy” or “I’m afraid.” He gets that. He is also fully aware of how those same weaknesses translate to strength as we trust.

The second is to embrace the call.

Isn’t it amazing that God sees what we do not? For years I spoke out of obedience until one day I began to speak out of joy instead.

God knew me! God knew my heart! God knew what He could do through a yielded life.

Study to be prepared.

Every day I study to hone my calling. I listen to really powerful speakers who are used by God. I read. I study books and the Bible and take knowledge deeper, integrating it into my personal life and into my writing and speaking, but also into the relationships forged in ministry.

The call is not a one-time event, but rather a lifetime of growing in that call. Yes, there will be missteps. Yes, you will look back and groan and say, “Did I really do that?”, but with each, as you dig deeper into that call, surround yourself with others with the same calling, you’ll move from a Simon (impulsive, immature, unsure) to a Peter (mature, faithful, aware of weaknesses, but confident in His strength).

Understand that you can’t do it all, and you don’t have all the answers

God isn’t calling you to take His place. And no matter how long you do what you do, you will never have all the answers. Sometimes listening and praying and trusting God with a person is exactly what is needed, and your words of wisdom only cloud the issue.

Do what God calls you to do, but let Him do what only He can.

Embrace the fear

Bet you didn’t expect that one, did you?

Every time I get comfortable, God moves me into greater territory. Not for my sake, but for His. I have come to embrace the fear that comes with new things, new territory, unexpected challenges and obstacles, because all of it means that I’m following Christ where He leads.

What about you? Are your words tangled?

Or will you shift the focus from your insufficiencies to His strength?