By Jason Ross

If you are reading this blog, it is because at some level you care deeply about our country and your community and you are concerned about the trajectory of both. 

Like many readers, your concern about everything that is happening in our society may be pulling your thoughts in conflicting directions—a desire to “do something” to change the downward trajectory, yet also a sense of being so overwhelmed by the sheer number and magnitude of problems that you doubt or feel a resignation of “what difference can I possibly make” to help change the trajectory.

If this is how you are feeling, congratulations—you now share a bond with some of the greatest faith leaders across the Bible. 

Moses cared about the suffering of the Israelites, and at the same time doubted he was qualified to do anything about it.  So much so that he openly questioned God’s wisdom in calling him back to Egypt; but, he obeyed, and changed the trajectory of the Jewish people. 

Uneducated fishermen obeyed God’s calling, became disciples, and changed the trajectory of the entire world.  The list of doubters and improbable difference makers across the Bible is long.  

When we try to analyze with our own minds and in our own power whether we can make a difference, we typically rationalize that we can’t, so we don’t try to make a difference. 

And that’s exactly why we won’t make any difference unless we respond to God’s prompting and step forward in faith with His power and equipping.  

I have found that the people God called and used across the Bible were usually the least logical choice to have been called.  But when they followed God’s calling in obedience, he used them to make a difference and supplied them with the wisdom, words, grace, and courage to fulfill their calling.  So if you have concluded you aren’t the right person for the job, that may be all the evidence you need to know that God thinks you are exactly the right person.

Whether you feel unqualified by what you “lack” or disqualified by what you have done (or not done), these thoughts and feelings may be the result of relying on your reasoning instead of God’s. 

God used a drunkard (Noah), a murderer and adulterer (David), a prostitute (Rahab), an unwed teenage girl (Mary).  The list goes on.

You see, God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways our not our ways.  His thoughts are higher than ours, and His word will accomplish the purpose for which it was sent and not return to Him empty.  

Read Isaiah 55, then ask yourself these two questions:

• Is the fact that I am concerned about the trajectory of my country or community an indication that God is prompting me to step forward to try to make a difference?

• When I list out all the reasons in my own mind as to why I am not qualified or why I can’t make any difference—is that actually confirmation that I am exactly the person God wants to use and can use to make a difference?

Perhaps it is time for you to respond to God’s prompting and step forward in faith to try to make a difference. 

Will you TAKE THE PLEDGE and join us here at Christians Engaged building habits of prayer, voting and engagement? We are here to help you start moving forward in faith for the sake of our nation.

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