If you’re planting a church and you’re scared, you’re in good company. I’ve yet to meet a church planter who wasn’t carrying some fear. Will people come? Will we have enough money? Will I disappoint the people following me? Will this actually work?
We often treat fear like an enemy to eliminate. Scripture treats it more like a diagnostic tool. Fear reveals something. That’s why I appreciate Moses so much.
When God called him to confront Pharoah and lead Israel out of Egypt, Moses didn’t puff out his chest and say, “I’ve been waiting for this opportunity.” He questioned everything. “Who am I? I’m not eloquent. Please send someone else.”
I appreciate his honesty because I have prayed versions of those same prayers, and some even more frightening.
God’s calling has a way of exposing our limitations. By design. If every assignment God gave us fit neatly inside our natural abilities, we could accomplish ministry while depending very little on Him. Instead, God often leads us into situations where our inadequacy becomes painfully obvious.
You’ve probably felt that. You preach your first sermon wondering if anyone will come back. You make decisions you’ve never had to make before. You counsel people through situations you’ve never experienced yourself. You ask others to follow a vision that sometimes feels too big for you.
Fear naturally follows those moments.
But look back at Moses. His fear exposed something about him. His attention remained fixed on himself. It was like he was saying, “I am not gifted enough. I don’t have what this requires.”
Honestly, that’s where most of our fears eventually lead. They convince us the success of God’s mission ultimately depends on our adequacy.
God answers Moses with one of the simplest and most comforting promises in all of Scripture. “But I will be with you” (Ex. 3:12). He doesn’t argue with Moses. He doesn’t hand him a leadership book. He doesn’t spend chapters convincing Moses he’s secretly more talented than he realizes. He simply redirects Moes’ attention. From himself. To God.
The answer to fear is not greater self-confidence, but greater God-confidence.
The answer to fear is not greater self-confidence. It’s great God-confidence. One quietly produces pride. The other produces dependence and dependence has always been God’s goal.
I’ve started paying attention to my fears differently over the years. Instead of letting them cripple me, I let them throw me at the foot of God. Sometimes fear exposes my desire for approval. Sometimes it uncovers my need for control. Sometimes it reveals that I’m placing more confidence in preparation than in God’s presence.
Fear can be a gracious teacher if we’re willing to let it point us back to Christ. God has never waited until someone felt completely ready before calling them into His work. He has always called ordinary people to impossible assignments while making the same promise He made to Moses. “I will be with you.”
Turns out, that has always been enough.
Do you know how God has shaped you and your team for His mission?
Download this workbook to guide your team through twelve exercises that will bring unity, clarity, and vision to your mission work.
