Sometimes I get stuck focusing on my limitations instead of trusting God to use me just the way I am. Never was this more true than when my husband and I planted a new church in the city of Toronto, Canada. God’s call seemed clear to us. There was no doubt in our minds that we should do it, but there were certainly moments when we wondered if we could do it. It seemed to us an impossible task.
Wrestling with Our Limitations
Like Moses, we wrestled with our limitations. We had never planted a church before. We didn’t have any money. We didn’t have a staff, team, or core group. We struggled with the fear of failure. It was freeing as we slowly began to understand that God knew all about our limitations but had plans to use us anyway!
The world says limitations are a sign of weakness. Limitations signal failure. Limitations are of no value. Limitations are a handicap. Society says admitting our limitations is a sign of weakness. Yet even Jesus didn’t seem to mind announcing to everyone his reliance upon God. He prayed every day, showing his dependence upon God. He waited on God’s timing, showing his patient obedience to follow God’s plan. We began to understand that following God’s call involved knowing our limitations and growing in spite of them.
Do What You Can Do
After his burning bush experience, Moses understood what God wanted him to do, but he had lingering doubts about his ability to get it done. Coach John Wooden said, “Don’t let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do.”
We decided to do what we could do and trust God to bridge the gap. Just as God enlisted Aaron to complement and support Moses, God began to raise up a team around us. God-given visions are usually so large they require the gifts of others to accomplish them. When we trust God and enlist the help of others, God’s work is accomplished. |L
Claudia Tune lives with her husband Jim in Mississauga, Ontario. Claudia is the Business Manager for Impact Canada, a church planting organization that starts new churches across Canada.
