Shooting Ourselves in the Foot – Breath of Life Women's Ministries

by Jenny Harrison

“Self-sabotage is when we say we want something and then go about making sure it doesn’t happen.”
~~Alyce P. Cornyn-Selby

“If I can’t do (fill in the blank) just right, why do it at all?”

“I am only going to look foolish next to (fill in a name). They have true talent.”

“I feel terrified of (fill in the blank). My fear is impossible to conquer.”

“There are many individuals more adequate than I am.”

I wonder what God is thinking when he leads me in a direction and I spend more time trying to convince him, my family, my friends, and anyone who can pass the breath test and has a pulse that I am NOT the person for the job. Who me? Are you serious or seriously delirious?

I am curious to know if our Father is amused or a little put-out when his children are persistent in their stance that he has obviously picked the wrong person.

I wouldn’t be the first stubborn and scared child of God to chose this path. I am in good company. Recently, we studied the book of Exodus in children’s bible study class. I knew Moses was resistant to God’s request, but I had forgotten to what extent.

Take a minute to review Moses’ faulty reasoning and pleas to his Lord:

Moses answered God, “But why me? What makes you think that I could ever go to Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
Exodus 3:11 (MSG)

Moses objected, “They won’t trust me. They won’t listen to a word I say. They’re going to say, ‘God? Appear to him? Hardly!'”
Exodus 4:1 (MSG)

Moses raised another objection to God: “Master, please, I don’t talk well. I’ve never been good with words, neither before nor after you spoke to me. I stutter and stammer.”
Exodus 4:10 (MSG)

He said, “Oh, Master, please! Send somebody else!”
Exodus 4:13 (MSG)

I must admit, there are days Moses’ self-doubt and sabotaging beliefs strike a chord with me. Praise God for the knowledge of his absolute truth:

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

Precious Heavenly Father, as I begin my day I will choose to rely on you and you alone. Today, I will make myself available and present so that your power is PERFECT in my weakness. Thank you Lord Jesus for giving your children the tools to conquer self-doubt, sabotaging, and “shooting ourselves in the foot” thoughts and behavior.