Real Hope: RevivalSample

A life of dependence: How to trust God when you share your faith

Picture this with me: You’re visiting with a friend you’ve known for years, someone you care for and have prayed for. The conversation turns to a horrific car accident your friend endured and miraculously survived. But what would have happened if the friend had died in the wreck?

It’s clear in your heart God is opening a door for you to share the hope of Christ – the hope of eternity! – with your friend, but you don’t know what to say. Rather than boldly sharing the Gospel, you shrink away and change the subject.

Many of us have had missed opportunities similar to this over the years. One of my greatest regrets occurred in a gas station on an Easter Sunday many years ago. I felt God calling me to share His love with the people in front of me, but I ignored Him. I still feel the burden today.

I believe if you ask most people why they didn’t share their faith in a situation such as this, the answer would be “I didn’t know what to say,” or “I was afraid I wouldn’t know the answer to their questions or objections.”

If this is you, take heart! Interestingly, one of the great heroes of the faith had the same fears and feelings of inadequacy.

In Exodus 4, Moses – the man who would lead the Jewish people out of slavery in Egypt, who would cross the Red Sea – was not a leader who inspired confidence. He was downright scared, knowing his own words failed him.

“O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” EXODUS 4:10 (MEV)

Moses admitted to God in verse 10. We may say it differently here in 2022, but how many times have we expressed basically the same thing to God?

Of course, his excuses made it about as far as yours or mine. God basically responded, “Don’t worry. I’ve got this!”

Verses 11 and 12:

“So 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? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.’”

What an incredible promise! God realized Moses’ human failings, that he might not know how or what to say, but it didn’t matter. It wasn’t going to be the words of a broken and scared man, but the words of Almighty God coming from the mouth of Moses.

If God promised to do it for Moses as he prepared to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, He’d do it for you and me as we share our faith with our friends and family. We must be obedient to God’s calling and prayerfully dependent upon Him in those moments as we boldly step out and trust that God will speak through us.

Written by WILL GRAHAM