A man born during turbulent times was adopted into the most powerful family in the world. He lived a lavish, comfortable life—until the day he murdered a man.

He hides the body, thinking no one knows, but is discovered the next day by two commoners. Word of his heinous act spreads. The king quickly learns the news and places the murderer on the country’s most wanted list.

The man flees for his life into the desert and settles into a life of obscurity. He integrates into a nomadic tribe, marries, and has a son. His life has calmed down and for that he is grateful.

He works as a shepherd, watching his father-in-law’s herds. But one day, his mediocre, comfortable life was forever shattered.

The man’s name is Moses. And God is about to speak to him from a burning bush.

God has been working in an incredible way to bring Moses to this exact point. But Moses lays down a trap for himself that almost keeps him from being used of God.

In Exodus 3, God lays out a plan to deliver the children of Israel, a plan that required Moses to confront Pharaoh, the most powerful man in the world, and lead a group of people numbering over 2.5 million to their promised land.

Isn’t it funny how oftentimes right when we get comfortable, God calls us out of our comfort zone to do great things for Him?

As soon as God called Moses to lead the children of Israel, Moses begins voicing his doubts—what we could call his limiting beliefs. One author defined a limiting belief as “a misunderstanding of the present that shortchanges our future.”

It has been proven that your belief going into a goal or calling determines whether or not you will achieve it.

The same is true with our spiritual life. If we do not believe that God can, we set ourselves up for failure.

Let’s look at some areas where Moses held himself back by a limiting belief and essentially said, “God, You can’t.”

God, You can’t use me. I’m not qualified.

After God reveals how He plans to deliver the children of Israel, Moses immediately tries to back out.

He asks God, “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11)

Moses look at his opposition (the most powerful man in the world) and his responsibility (leading two-and-a-half million people) and thought, There’s no way!

I love God’s response: “Certainly I will be with thee” (Exodus 3:12).

It’s as if God was saying, “Moses, I know you’re not qualified. I understand that this plan is overwhelming. I get it! But, I’ll be with you every step of the way. You have nothing to worry about! My presence goes with you.”

How often do we react the same way to God’s plan for our lives? Remember, no matter the opposition or responsibility associated with your calling, God is with you every step of the way!

God, You can’t use me. I don’t know enough about You.

Moses then asks God, “When I come to the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say unto me, What is his name? What shall I say unto them?” (Exodus 3:13)

Moses looks at his lack of knowledge about God as an excuse! He basically asks, “God, how in the world can I lead in Your name if I’m not sure I myself know Who You are?!”

God then writes a script for Moses, giving two names that He would now be known by.

The first name God gave was, “I AM THAT I AM,” a beautiful name that explains His name “Jehovah” and describes Who God is in Himself.

The second name God gave was, “the LORD God of your fathers,” a name that explains Who God is to His people.

God then guarantees the results! The people would listen to Moses and accept his message from God (Exodus 3:18), Pharaoh would not yield to Moses’s request (Exodus 3:19), and God would miraculously deliver the people out of Egypt (Exodus 3:20)!

Aren’t you thankful that we don’t have to wonder Who God is? We have a written record of Who He is today! Study God’s Word with the desire to grow deeper in your understanding of our amazing God. While we’ll never fully understand our great God, we can certainly get to know Him better. When it comes to our understanding of God, we don’t have an excuse!

God, You can’t use me. I don’t think they’ll believe me.

Moses then retorts back to God, “But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee” (Exodus 4:1).

Moses now looks at potential doubt from the people and asks God, “How in the world can I prove that, yes, I am actually called of God to lead?”

God then gives Moses three ways to prove himself as God’s messenger to the children of Israel: a rod that could become a serpent (Exodus 4:2-5), the ability to turn his hand leprous (Exodus 4:6-7), and the ability to turn water into blood (4:8-9). Let’s be honest; if any of us had seen just ONE of these, we’d trust Moses!

Aren’t you thankful that we, too, can prove our message today?

Jesus reminds us in John 13:35, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

God, You can’t use me. I’m not gifted!

After God gives Moses three ways to prove his validity, Moses says, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue” (Exodus 4:10).

I find it interesting that Moses throws this excuse in after God has told him exactly what to say and what to do. God has given him the play-by-play and written the script and Moses says, “That’s great and all, but I’m not gifted!”

Unbelievable!

God then reminds Moses, “Who hath made man’s mouth? Or who maketh the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say” (Exodus 4:11-12).

The very God Who created Moses, not only knows his limitations, but will enable him to fulfill his calling!

How sad it is to see Christians throw this excuse out as a way to back out of what they know is right. Whether it’s sharing the gospel, getting involved in some avenue of ministry, or even their own spiritual growth, too many throw up the “I’m not gifted” excuse thinking they can then just sit on the sideline, all the while forgetting that God is with them, empowering them to fulfill what He has called them to.

Aren’t you thankful that God enables you to fulfill what He’s called you to do? With God, all things are possible!

God, You can’t use me! I’m not the best one for the job!

Moses’s last response is an interesting one. At first glance, it seems ok.

“O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send” (Exodus 4:13).

However, the result of this final response was that “the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses” (Exodus 4:14). This is a scary place to be.

The statement Moses made could also be translated, “Pardon your servant Lord, send someone else.” One commentator explains this reply: This was “a curt, impatient, and scarcely reverent speech. Moses means that he will undertake the task if God insists; but that God would do far better to send another. Hence the ‘anger of the Lord’ against him.”

Don’t ever get to the point where you’re comfortable telling God, “No.” Again, if God has called you to do something, He’s called YOU.

Conclusion

All of us have been called of God to do something greater this year. I don’t know what limiting beliefs you’re holding onto, but it’s time to let your limiting beliefs go.

Whatever it is God is calling you to this year, He has promised us “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5), “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26), and all we need to do is “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3).

This year is the year to let go of your limiting beliefs and follow God unreservedly.