What Does God Want From You?

When God calls you to something, it’s never just about the task. It's about who you're becoming in the process. It's meant to humble you, to strip away your self-sufficiency, and to remind you that you're not in this alone. That’s what we see in Exodus 3:11-12, where Moses encounters a calling that completely overwhelms him.

"But Moses said to God, 'Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?' He said, 'But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.'" (Exodus 3:11–12)

Let’s take a closer look at what this moment teaches us about how God works in our lives.

“Who Am I?” The Call That Humbles
Moses hears the call and immediately responds with a question that echoes deep insecurity: “Who am I?”

Though he had said earlier in the chapter, “Here I am,” now that the assignment is clear, he recoils. “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” The call humbled him. It weighed heavily on him.

Humility stands in contrast to pride and arrogance. To be humble is to be lowly, to recognize your limitations and inadequacies in light of God’s greatness.

Commentator H.D.M. Spence gives us insight into this shift in Moses. Forty years earlier, Moses had stepped forward with boldness, even killing an Egyptian in an effort to begin Israel’s deliverance. As Acts 7:25 explains, “He supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them, but they understood not.”

At that time, Moses was confident in himself. But the people rejected his leadership. Now, after forty years in exile as a shepherd, Moses had been sobered. He had been emptied of self-reliance and was reluctant to step forward again.

Spence writes that Moses now asked, “Can I, a foreigner of 40 years in exile with the manners of a rough shepherd, expect to have with the mighty monarch of Egypt?” He felt unfit to lead his people, especially when they had rejected him before. His past failure and the long silence in the wilderness had worked humility deep into him.

And that’s exactly what God was looking for.

God Looks for Humility
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)

When God calls you to a task, it will often overwhelm you. It will humble you. It will weigh on you, because it will require more than you have. That’s part of the point. The calling is meant to reveal your need for God.

A friend of mine, Jonathan Smith, posted something on Facebook recently that hit hard. It was a reminder from ten years ago, and it said:
"There is no biblical evidence of God calling someone to do something easy."

That’ll preach.

God’s call is never about ease. It’s about obedience, trust, and dependence on Him. And when the call comes, and you feel unqualified or incapable, don’t be discouraged. That’s often the sign that it is from God.

The Promise That Sustains the Call
The good news is that God doesn’t just call and leave us to figure it out. He promises something far greater than clarity or comfort. He promises His presence.

In response to Moses’ question—“Who am I?”—God doesn’t boost his confidence with compliments. He doesn’t reassure Moses by listing his skills or background. Instead, God says one thing: “But I will be with you.”

That’s the game-changer.

The difference-maker in any calling isn’t your gifting, your resume, or your strength. It’s God's presence.

Spence notes that while Moses excused himself due to unfitness, God replied: “Thou wilt not be unfit, since I will be with thee. I will supply thy deficiencies. I will impart all the qualities thou needest.” In other words, God’s presence is the provision.

And God gives Moses a glimpse of the future as reassurance: “This shall be the sign... when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” God shows him a picture of what’s coming, not to remove the difficulty of the task, but to anchor him in the promise that this journey has a destination.

God’s Promise Is His Presence
Throughout Scripture, we see this theme repeated:
Joshua 1:9: “Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not, for I am with you... I will strengthen you, I will help you.”

Psalm 23:4: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

Matthew 28:20: “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

When God sends, He accompanies. When He calls, He equips through His presence.

 God Will Give You a Vision
 In Exodus 3:12, God tells Moses, “This shall be the sign that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

 God doesn’t lay out every step. Instead, He gives Moses a glimpse, a picture of the future to hold onto.

 This is something I’ve experienced personally. Often, God will give me just a sliver of a picture. A preferred future. I’ll see it, sometimes when I’m away, reflecting, praying, and when I come back, it stirs vision in me. It makes me ask, “How do we get there? What’s next?”

 That’s what God is doing with Moses. He gives him a preview of what’s ahead: “We're coming back here, and they’re going to be with you.” God is not just promising His presence. He’s giving vision, direction, and assurance.

 What Does God Want? Your Humble Availability
 Some of you are on the edge of a new season. For some, it involves your children. For others, it’s a shift in the marketplace. For others still, it’s a call into ministry.

 Whatever it is, God wants one thing: your humble availability.

 He can use your story. He can use your struggle. He can even use your mess, the one that happened to you, or the one authored by you. If you bring it to Him, He will create a message from it.

 So the question is simple: Are you available?

 If so, then know this. God is with you. And that changes everything.




This blog is based on the message shared by Senior Dr. Roger Patterson at our CityRise West U Baptist campus on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. Check out the full message below!