Watch her on the diving board in that moment just before she springs. I cannot tell you exactly what is going through the mind of this world-class champion diver, but I can guarantee what she is NOT thinking.

“I can’t do this. I have no right to be here. I am unworthy. Who do I think I am standing before millions of people representing the United States of America? There are so many others worthier and better divers than I. Oh, Lord, help me get through this.”

Not if she wants to do well, she doesn’t think that way.

And yet, untold numbers of God’s people approach the tasks of their days in just this way. The odd thing is we call it humility and somehow think God approves of such an attitude. Not so.

“Oh, why was I chosen to sing the solo in this year’s pageant? So many others sing better than I do. I am unworthy. O God, use this worthless servant. May my poor effort be a worthy offering to Thee.”

“I have no right to be sitting in your living room witnessing to you about Jesus Christ. I’m a failure in so many ways. If I got what I deserved, I’d be in hell. But, I’ll go ahead and do my best.”

“I know I’m the poorest Sunday School teacher in the church. My class is infinitely patient with me. I hope the pastor finds someone more capable who is willing to teach this class. Maybe it will grow if someone else were in charge.”

Sound familiar?

Where did we ever get the idea God wants such defeatism and negative thinking from His children? Not from the Bible, I’ll tell you that.

Check out the Lord’s instructions to various servants before they sprang into action representing not millions of people in an arena but the God of the universe in His world.

When Moses said, “Who am I?” God answered, “Who made your mouth? I will be with you.” (Exodus chapter 3) It’s not about you, Moses, it’s about God.

When Joshua succeeded Moses, again and again the Lord reminded him, “Be strong and courageous! I am with you!” (Josh. 1:6,9,18)

Jeremiah said, “Lord, I’m too young and I don’t know how to speak.” God said, “Do not say ‘I am a youth,’ because you will go everywhere I send you and do everything I command.” The Lord added, “Do not be afraid of them, because I am with you to deliver you.” (Jer. 1:6-8)

Later in that fateful conversation the Lord gave Jeremiah the ultimate encouragement, actually a warning: “Do not be dismayed before your audience, or I will dismay you before them.” (1:17) As I read it, God was saying: “If you get stage fright, I will humiliate you in front of them.”

God wants no timid representatives. He is not honored by hesitant witnesses or scaredy-cat preachers.

In the New Testament, again and again the Apostle Paul counsels his shy young protege Timothy (“Timid-thy”?) to stand strong for the Lord. “Let no man despise your youth.” (I Tim. 4:12) “God has not given us the spirit of timidity but of power and love and a sound mind.” (II Tim. 1:7) “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season.” (II Tim. 4:2)

Writing to others about Tim, Paul says, “See that he is with you without cause to be afraid…let no one despise him” (I Corinthians 16:10-11).

We get the impression Tim needed some encouragement to forget about his youth and inexperience, his inabilities and his unworthiness, and to stand tall for the Lord Jesus Christ.

We all need that from time to time. We need to remember that “I’m not here for my own purposes; God sent me.” As Paul said, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ!” (II Corinthians 5:20)

When asked why he was so bold preaching in the front door of the king of Israel, and why he didn’t go back down south where he came from, where people would welcome his preaching and even take up offerings for him, the Old Testament prophet Amos replied, “I’m no preacher. I’m not even the son of a preacher (which meant a seminary student; a preacher in the making). I was a herdsman and a gatherer of sycamore fruit. The Lord God took me and sent me up here to preach. Friend, when the lion roars, you will fear. And when God speaks, you will prophesy.” (Amos 7:10-15 and 3:8)

Stage fright. Who hasn’t dealt with it at one time or other? It’s natural to the human animal. And yet I tell you that God has no patience with anyone He has called who hides behind that excuse for their timid declarations and hesitant witness. He prefers that we take our focus off ourselves and direct them toward His call, His presence with us, His power, and His sufficiency.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

“The Lord God is my strength. He has made my feet like hinds’ feet; He causes me to walk on my high places.” (Habakkuk 3:19)

“My grace is sufficient for Thee; my power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me….for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (II Corinthians 12:9-10)

At the age of 19, I was chosen to bring a sermon to our church in Birmingham. It was Sunday night, thankfully, so only a couple hundred people were scattered across the massive auditorium of West End Baptist Church. Sitting out in the congregation among them, they didn’t look all that frightening, but sitting beside the pastor on the platform, they were a fearsome lot. I felt my knees begin to knock and began to wonder if I could get through this without embarrassing myself.

This was not going well, and I was still 10 minutes from my opening words.

Then something occurred to me.

“This is not about me,” I said to myself. “This is about a message God has given me to share with these people. They need to hear this. Someone may have his life changed tonight.”

Gradually, as the focus moved from me to the people in the congregation, I felt the fears subsiding. More and more, I felt, “I can do this. The Lord is my strength.”

It went great. In fact, during the invitation time following the sermon, a teenage girl committed her life to Christ, saying God had used this message to soften her heart.

The simple fact is that “in my flesh there dwelleth no good thing” (Romans 7:18) and “it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23), but this does not disqualify you and me from declaring God’s message and representing Him on the world stage.

If God were looking for perfection to represent Him, He would be using angels. But “we have this treasure in clay vessels,” Paul said in II Corinthians 4:7, so that God will get all the glory for Himself.

So, don’t come in here with these little whining testimonies that “I’m so unworthy” and “I know someone else could do this better.” That’s true, but it’s beside the point. God has chosen you.

Now, get your mind off yourself and get on with the job. Take the dive.

Give Him your best.