Answering God's Call When I'm Not Enough
Episode 14
In the book of Luke, Elizabeth finds herself, in the second-half of life, after a lifetime of barrenness, being called to trust the Lord in a whole new way. In this Part 1, in a three part series on Elizabeth, we're gong to get honest and ask the question, what do we do when God calls us to something there's no way we can accomplish? For everyone who ever feels they're "not enough" -this episode is for you!
Show Notes
Today, I am starting a three part series today looking at Elizabeth in the book of Luke. She is perfect for this podcast because she got her call late in life. When she thought all such possibilities were gone.
Today’s title is: Answering God’s Call When I’m Not Enough
Because when I’m sitting In my not enough, I find it hard to hear, much less answer, God’s call.
At this end of life’s road I find myself looking back with regret and seeing where I failed. Where I dropped the ball. Where I didn’t do enough. Where my talents or abilities failed to equal my dreams.
Sometimes I feel like I’ve failed the Lord. I haven’t accomplished all He’s put on my heart.
I’ve been working on a novel for 5 years, and the idea came over 25 years ago. And I'm not done yet!
That’s why I named this podcast: We’re Not Done Yet. I constantly need the reminder.
Listen to Revelation 3:8, NASB: 'I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
POWER: can also be translated strength or might.
Matthew 6:13: 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.']
We’re not meant to be strong enough.
Why do I always forget? It’s HIS power, not mine.
Zechariah and Elizabeth
Luke 1 tells the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth.
Luke 1:5-7: In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
They live for Yahweh, BUT
What is your BUT? Your HOWEVER?
They had no child.
Barrenness was a great sorrow for anyone of the people living under the promise that they would number the stars.
Practically: their retirement.
I discovered Alexander Maclaren, a British pastor at turn of the last century, on Biblehub. I LOVE his work.
Maclaren Quote:
Seek to cultivate a buoyant, joyous sense of the crowded kindnesses of God in your daily life.
Listen to what Alexander Maclaren said about our godly, elderly, barren couple. (And remember, we’re thinking about our own places of barrenness and not enoughness.)
“they were not thereby hindered from ‘walking in all God’s commandments and ordinances blameless.’ Let us learn that unfulfilled wishes are not to clog our devotion, nor to silence our prayers, nor to slacken our running the race set before us.”
Zechariah is ministering by himself in Temple: chosen by lot (God directs our small details). But when the angel gives the amazing news, he doubts.
I get it. I feel too old for some things I’ve prayed for. In fact, I’ve stopped praying for some things, assuming I’m just too late. But listen to angel:
Luke 1:13-14: But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
MacLaren says of this:
Blessings may come today as the result of old prayers which have almost passed from our memory and our hope.
But, I really don’t think they were still praying. For a child What hope has died for you? Where is there not enough of you to go around? What feels barren?
Might that be the EXACT place God is calling you to?
They’re going to have an impossible baby and name him John:
‘John’ means ‘The Lord is gracious.’
Another barren Dad with an “too old” wife had a son. Romans 4 gives insight on the Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac story.
Why is Abe willing to sacrifice Isaac?
Romans 4:17: as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"--in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
It’s not about our POWER. We have little power.
What feels dead in you? What did you hope for that has never existed?
When we keep His word and don’t deny His name, when we’re like Elizabeth and walk in the Lord’s statutes, in our little measly ability to do that, He can set an open door in front of us and do exceedingly abundantly beyond anything we’d ever ask.
We know Zechariah doubts. He becomes mute as a result. But let’s look to our example of Elizabeth:
Luke 1:24-25: After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, "Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people."
She’d lived holy and righteous and in the light of others' judgement her whole married life because barrenness was seen as a curse.
What if the worst part of ourselves and the thing we most want to change is just a platform for Jesus to do His best work?
Elizabeth cultivates her holy secret, praises His name, and gives Him the credit.
Next week we will look at what we’re to do when God calls us to the impossible.
But for now I want to emphasize the point: we’re NEVER ENOUGH for God’s call. It is HIS power that accomplishes ANYTHING.
For now let’s take our cue from Elizabeth and praise the Lord with Psalm 103:1-5:
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Sister, we don’t have to be enough. We just need to answer His call.