Michael Mosby, Children’s Church Coordinator

Acts 9:10-17
In Damascus there was a believer named Ananias. The Lord called out to him in a vision. “Ananias!” he said.

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street. Ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying. 12 In a vision Saul has seen a man come and place his hands on him. That man’s name is Ananias. In the vision, Ananias placed his hands on Saul so he could see again.”

13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I’ve heard many reports about this man. They say he has done great harm to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 Now he has come here to arrest all those who worship you. The chief priests have given him authority to do this.”

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! I have chosen this man to work for me. He will announce my name to the Gentiles and to their kings. He will also announce my name to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for me.”

17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. He placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “you saw the Lord Jesus. He appeared to you on the road as you were coming here. He has sent me so that you will be able to see again. You will be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Right away something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes. And he could see again. He got up and was baptized. 19 After eating some food, he got his strength back.

Reflection:
There are moments in our lives that uniquely fit the way God has made us. God has given us gifts that we can use to go out and do good. For example, I know I am uniquely made to teach children.    

I hope you have had that feeling before when you are in the moment of doing that thing that God has meant for you to do, and you just feel it. You feel God working through you. It is an incredible feeling, and I get chills just thinking about it. 

It is not always a great feeling at first though. In the past, I have had situations where I knew God was calling to for a specific moment. Sometimes the moment was just a bit bigger than what I had been called for in the past. Through these bigger moments, I can grow and develop my gift even more. Even though growth is great, moments like these can be scary and overwhelming.            

If you have had this happen to you before, maybe, like Ananias, you argue with God or try to put God on hold. In Acts 9, even though Ananias knows he was made for what God is calling him to at that moment, the situation was bigger than the ones he had encountered in the past. 

God calls Ananias, and right away Ananias says, “Here I am!”, the same way many of us may respond when we are called to do something for which we know we are meant. Ananias is excited and ready to serve God! And then God tells him to go and heal a man who is famous for persecuting Christians. Ananias was stopped in his tracks and begins to tell God what God already knows. I do not think Ananias was doubting God; I think he was doubting himself. And we have all been there. We all doubt ourselves. But God had no doubt that Ananias could do exactly what he asked, just as God has no doubt when God calls us. God made Ananias capable of healing Saul, and God made us for the moments to which we are called!

Try and remember this story when God asks you to do something bigger than what you have been called to in the past. After all, God was up to something big for humanity, and God invites Ananias to take part in it. When God calls you to use your gift in a new and bigger challenge, have no fear. God has already equipped you for that moment! 

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for the gifts you have given us. You have made us uniquely capable of doing your will. Lord, help us to remember that when the moment may seem too big for us, that you have equipped us for the moment you are calling us into. Amen.