I used to watch the “Daily Affirmation” skits on Saturday Night Live (usually with Lynlee) and they made us both laugh pretty good. You know, the ones where Stuart Smalley would sit and look in the mirror and tell himself, “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and ---- people like me!” I think in some ways I could relate to Stuart Smalley when I was back in high school, because he felt so INADEQUATE so much of the time, and so did I. It was fun to laugh at somebody else who was even more insecure than I was.
As I get older, I wish I could say that I don’t feel so inadequate the way I did back then in high school. But actually, I still do---only in different ways. This inadequacy thing just doesn’t go away, and I don’t believe it completely will until heaven. Some of my insecurities have gone away almost all the way, only to be replaced with new ones. And this past week I’ve been thinking about that, and have realized it’s really something I must be conscious of, but NOT something that should hinder me from doing what I know I’m supposed to do. I’ve been thinking lots about Moses at the burning bush and how he told God that he really was NOT the one to lead the Israelites out of
Exodus 4:10-12:
Moses said to God, “O my Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue. (This is like me saying, “God, I’ve never been good at…..”---fill in the blank --- or “But, God, I can’t do that because I’m not …….” ---fill in the blank again).
And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the LORD? Now therefore GO, and I WILL BE WITH THY MOUTH, and I will teach thee what thou shalt say.” (This is like God saying to me, “Davida, didn’t I make you the way you are and don’t I know what I’m doing? Now stop making excuses and get busy! I'm right here with you anyway!”)
God knew the plan for Moses. He wanted Moses to go to Pharoah, despite his speech impediment or whatever it was he was so insecure about. Moses felt completely unsuited for the job, but God knew he was just the man for it. And then He promised him that He’d give Him the words to say. God said HE WOULD MAKE IT HAPPEN, through Moses; Moses had to just act in obedience. I LOVE THAT. That speaks to me because lately I have felt so inadequate in certain areas. The devil would have us believe that we are unfit and unsuited for any tasks set before us, especially those ordained by God (like being a faithful parent, spouse, servant in church, teacher, worker, whatever it is!). The devil would rather us just say, “I’m not good enough to do this right” and in turn not do it at all.
God would rather us put forth our best effort, lean on those around us for help and support when we need it (‘cuz we WILL need it, as hard as it is to admit it), pray for Him to guide every step of every day, and learn from our failures. No one is perfect, though some will act like they are. All of us are “hopelessly flawed”. Moses was. I certainly am. But it doesn’t mean we can’t be used in a big way. And it doesn’t give us any excuse to just sit back and “hide” in the desert while people all around us are suffering in hopeless bondage.
The next time I feel like I’m not doing very well---as a teacher or as a Mom or as a housekeeper or as a wife---I am going to ask myself whether or not I am seriously doing my best and truly striving to do what’s pleasing to God. If I can honestly say, “Yes, I’m doing the best I can possibly do”, then I will tell Satan to GET BEHIND ME. And instead of wallowing in my misery of inadequacies, I’ll go DO SOMETHING that will help me feel better about things---and keep trying again and again to get better at it, but without throwing in the towel or flying off the handle. And THAT will be MY TRUE DAILY AFFIRMATION!
The last thing Jesus told his followers before ascending to heaven was this:
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in
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