“Do not say, ‘I am only a youth.’”  Jeremiah 1:7

Every one of us has a counter-argument to the call of God.  “No, Lord.  I am only a _________.”  But what God said to Jeremiah he says to you: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you” (Jeremiah 1:5).  You don’t define yourself.  God does.  And he never has a trivial thought.  He’s not capable of it.

God also said, “To all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.  Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 1:7-8).  You have been sent into this world by God.  You have a mission.  He handmade you for it.  He is with you every day to deliver you.  Do not be afraid.

To fulfill your destiny, you don’t need to mimic someone else’s identity, someone who seems to matter more than you do.  The you that you are by creation and redemption in Christ – that basic you is not fundamentally a problem; that you is fundamentally a strategy.

Being who you are is a privilege from God.  Trust him.  Rise up and serve him, as only you can.

You

is a post from: Ray Ortlund