We talk with God every day, even if most of us are not fortunate enough to hear his voice respond through a perpetually burning bush. (If anyone wants to drive with me into the middle of the Arizona desert to find a bush, we can see if it works like a hotspot. I’ll bring the sunscreen and a lighter, you can pay for gas.)
Like Moses, I often wonder if I’m the man for the job. Lord, “what if they do not believe me?” (Exodus 4:1). Lord, what about my inadequacies? Is there not someone smarter, better spoken? A better fit for the job? (The answer is yes, there are more-intelligent, more-eloquent, more-trained, more-learned, wittier, kinder, better-equipped people out there, but God wanted me.)
“Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
— Exodus 4:11–12
When I don’t have the 15 hours and 56 minutes to drive out and commit spiritually motivated arson, I usually pray something like this:
God of all creation,
Architect of the universe,
Who set time and space into motion,
For me to be afraid of ruining your work is arrogance.
You have accounted for every atom in existence and set them on their paths.
You have accounted for my shortcomings too.
Lord, work through me. Don’t allow me, or my limitations, or my doubt to become obstacles.
Thy will be done,
Amen.
And even though I can’t hear a booming voice emanating from the flames, I know what God has already said to Moses:
And God said, “I will be with you…”
—Exodus 3:12
And what more could I really ask for?