Meeting The Challenge: Moving Beyond Reluctance

This Sunday my wife, Cathy, will be out of town.  She is the worship leader at our church.  Our other worship leader who has filled in for Cathy in the past is also gone.  This means that yours truly has the honor of leading the singing this week.  Oh, boy.  I’m coming out of 5 years’ retirement to step up and serve in a way that I neither enjoy, nor am I comfortable doing.

Am I adequate for the task? Yes. Do I feel like it? No. Does it really need to be done?  Yes.  Do I want to do it?  Not at all.  The truth is that most of us could accomplish many more things than we will ever attempt or volunteer for.  We feel inadequate, nervous or fearful and therefore, reluctant.  Strange.  God often challenges us to step beyond this reluctance to try something new or to help out others in a pinch.  When we do this, the Bible calls us “willing”.

Being willing doesn’t necessarily mean we want to serve in this or that capacity.  It just means we will move beyond our reluctance and meet the challenge.  I encourage you to consider where God may be challenging you to serve Him, to step up and help others, but you are reluctant. Every church needs helping hands, and every follower of Christ needs to be involved in serving others. Ask Him to give you a willing heart and a ready mind.  Then take the step and meet the challenge.