Sometimes the hardest part of following God is simply saying yes. We can find plenty of reasons to hesitate: we’re too busy, we don’t feel qualified, someone else could do it better, or we’re afraid of what might happen if we fail. When the task seems bigger than we are, it can be much easier to focus on our limitations than on the One who is calling us.

Moses knew that feeling. When God called him to lead Israel out of Egypt, his first response was, “Who am I?” His questions eventually became excuses, yet God continued to answer him with a promise: “I will be with you.” From Moses and Gideon to a reluctant Jonah, Scripture shows us ordinary people learning to trust God enough to take the next faithful step.

What might God be calling you to do—and what would happen if you answered?

Sermon Notes

Big Idea: God isn’t looking for perfectly qualified people—He is looking for willing people who trust that He is enough.

Overview

Andy confessed his own reluctance when asked to preach and realized his excuses mirrored many biblical heroes’. Drawing on the stories of Moses, Gideon, and Jonah, he showed how even the greatest servants of God began with hesitation, doubt, or outright refusal. Yet God patiently provided signs, reassurance, and help, proving that His plan depends on His power, not our abilities. The message ended with a challenge to stop making excuses and take the next faithful step God is prompting each of us to take.

Key Scripture

• Exodus 3–4 — The foundation of the whole message: God calls Moses, who offers excuse after excuse, yet God promises, “I will be with you.”
• Judges 6 — Supporting example: Gideon doubts his worth and seeks signs, but God uses the “weakest” for victory.
• Jonah 1 — Contrasting example: Jonah runs the other way, yet God still accomplishes His purpose through him.

Main Points

1. Moses — Hesitation and Self-Doubt (Exodus 3–4)

• God speaks from a burning bush and commissions Moses to confront Pharaoh.
• Moses objects five times: “Who am I?”, “What shall I say?”, “They won’t believe me,” “I am slow of speech,” “Please send someone else.”
• God answers each objection with His name (“I AM”), miraculous signs (staff to snake, leprous hand, Nile water to blood), and the provision of Aaron.
• Lesson: God’s presence, not our competence, is the decisive factor.

2. Gideon — Weakness and Repeated Confirmation (Judges 6)

• Gideon protests, “My clan is the weakest and I am the least in my family.”
• He requests two fleece signs: wet fleece/dry ground, then dry fleece/wet ground.
• God honors the requests and uses Gideon to deliver Israel with a drastically reduced army.
• Lesson: God patiently meets honest doubts and proves His strength through our weakness.

3. Jonah — Refusal and God’s Unstoppable Purpose (Jonah 1–4)

• God commands Jonah to preach to Nineveh; Jonah buys a ticket in the opposite direction.
• A storm, a great fish, and Jonah’s eventual obedience lead to Nineveh’s repentance.
• Jonah is upset when God spares the city, yet God’s compassion prevails.
• Lesson: Even willful disobedience cannot derail God’s plan, and His mercy extends beyond our comfort zones.

Application

The call: Identify the task God has placed on your heart and act on it today—no more excuses.

Head — Recognize the specific excuse (busy, unqualified, fear of failure) that keeps you from obeying.

Heart — Shift focus from your inadequacy to God’s sufficiency: hear Him say, “I will be with you.”

Hands

1. Name one concrete step of obedience you have been postponing—and schedule it this week.
2. Share your commitment with a trusted believer for prayer and accountability.
3. When hesitation rises, rehearse God’s promise of presence aloud.

Reflection Questions

1. Which of the three biblical figures (Moses, Gideon, Jonah) do you identify with most, and why?
2. What excuses surface in your mind when God nudges you toward a task or change?
3. How have you seen God supply what you lacked after you took a step of faith in the past?
4. What “next faithful step” is God asking you to take right now?
5. Who can walk with you to encourage and remind you of God’s promise, “I will be with you”?

Prayer

Father, thank You for calling ordinary people like us. Forgive our excuses and fears. Remind us that Your presence is enough and Your power is made perfect in our weakness. Give us courage to take the next step of obedience today, trusting that You who call will also equip. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Recorded August 16th, 2026
Message by Andy Niemeyer