When Routine Becomes Challenge

What do you do when easy jobs suddenly seem like a major mountain to climb? Only last week I had a sobering experience. 

I have a number of more bulky items than normal ready to take to the tip. Through visiting recycling centres in other parts of the country, I have become familiar with the way these things work. Once you have lifted the goods into the boot of the car, you have only to take them round and there will be plenty of help to guide you to the right places to deposit them. Simple! All done in a matter of half an hour or less, on a good day.

Thus far I have shied away from going to my local centre. Winter ailments have been a good excuse to not do anything remotely adventurous. But last week I began to feel that it was time to take action. I assembled all my junk in the driveway ready to go – and then felt simply unable to load it up and be on my way. All I could do was throw a tarpaulin over it and leave it for another day.

What a wimp, I thought to myself! To be like that is quite unnerving. But I dare say I am not alone. Many people who ought to have the gifts and strengths to go on carrying out certain tasks become unable to face them any more.

Moses was a very modest individual. When God first called him to lead Israel, he was reluctant to comply. He made excuse after excuse. God (as is His way) gave Moses sign after sign to overcome his hesitations. Yet His reluctant servant still insisted on seeing the downside:

But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else” (Exodus 4:10-13 ESV).

Moses, remember, is the very man who had been quite happy to speak up for a Hebrew when an Egyptian man struck him! He even took vigorous action – he killed the Egyptian (Exodus 2:11-13). He wasn’t backward in coming forward then!

There are those who suffer from the onset of crippling mental health issues who cannot ever be expected to rise to the occasion again. It is no use lecturing them. No doubt also age and frailty eventually reduce nearly everyone’s powers. But Moses was God’s man and God wasn’t going to let matters rest there in his case.

Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him” (verses 14-16).

I’ll see how I feel about finishing the job later on this week …

I don’t know what your situation is today. Everyone must be wise about his or her limits and certain things need to be dropped. But never underestimate the strength Christ gives you to serve Him, if you are His child.

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).