“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV
I left the hospital asking, “Are you really letting us take this baby home from here?!” It sounds ridiculous and the nurse at my side just laughed, but it was a window into my soul at the time. The moment we strapped our baby boy in his new car seat, a fresh wave of fear swept over me. All of a sudden, I felt completely unprepared and unequipped to take my fragile infant out of that hospital, having no ‘real world’ experience on how to care for him.
It doesn’t sound pretty, but that’s often the way it goes when I’m given a new assignment. Sure, it might be exciting, but it’s often accompanied by an element of trepidation. What if I mess up? What if I’m not equipped for the job?
In Exodus, God gave Moses detailed instructions on how to build the tabernacle, including what materials to use, dimensions, and who to enlist to perform the work. I wonder how Moses felt receiving all of those specific instructions, knowing that mishandling any part of it could result in disaster. But God knew it was a tall order and was completely prepared to meet the needs of Moses and the Israelites in order for them to be successful. God knew the process required divine inspiration.
The equipping that takes place in this story is what stands out. God equipped Moses to lead the people; Bezalel and Oholiab to build and create; and others to give possessions as offerings. The whole community was able to contribute and play a role in this beautiful creation of the tabernacle. No one person was overwhelmed because the whole congregation was contributing.
Just as God put His Spirit in the artisans to craft the tabernacle, so the Son gave us the Holy Spirit so we can bear fruit. By His Spirit, we have everything we need to carry out our assignments. He knew the Holy Spirit was the comfort, power, wisdom, courage and truth we needed to stand firm in our identity and calling as His daughters.
Whether it’s raising a family, missions, or leading a Bible study, we can trust that He is going to equip us. Each assignment can feel overwhelming because it’s usually bigger than we can accomplish on our own. I’m pretty sure He designed it that way so we’d remain humbly dependent on Him and collaborate with the community He’s placed us in. We were never meant to do it on our own. My assignment to nurture my children was achievable because God was with me, equipping me each step, and because He set me in community with other moms to find encouragement and help when needed.
In my experience, even if I’m a little intimidated by the assignment, there are a few things I can always look to for a boost in my faith and confidence: the scriptures, testimonies of other believers, and my personal history with God. When you feel the weight of an assignment, seek out a trusted believer that can help redirect your focus to scriptural truth and remind you of all the ways God has moved before. Remember He always provides, His Spirit never fails, and He’s always with you. That, my friends, is good news!
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