We just returned from four great days in Orlando, FL where we served as Chaplains for one of the companies that we work with. Every one of these events is different in many ways. Even though they may look similar, they all take on a life of their own. If you listen intently, you can discern how God is moving in His way. It’s not planned by man. It doesn't go by a printed agenda. It just comes out like He plans it.

This meeting had a lot of successful people that spoke on how they had to deal with what they were told, or what they felt, were shortcomings in their lives. It wasn’t their topic to speak on, but it just seemed to come out in every one of their life stories.

As an example, one young lady shared about her extreme fear of public speaking. The first time she had to make a major presentation on her job she was so afraid that she became sick and fainted in the middle of the presentation. From then on she resorted to writing down her thoughts and reading them verbatim rather than giving a regular speech. She did the same thing at this meeting. She read what she wanted to say. She did a fantastic job and you could tell, from the few times that she did some impromptu speaking, that she was a very smart and gifted writer and speaker and that she is probably called to be a great speaker.

I could really relate to this young lady because I struggled with this same type of fear for years. I told God He must have made a mistake when He first called me to preach. But He didn’t listen. He called me anyway, introvert and all, and after years of speaking that fear has been overcome.

What I have learned over the years is that God will use the least likely candidates to do great things. I think He does that on purpose so we as individuals will always know and remember that it’s Him and not us.

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (1 Corinthians 1:27)

The other thing I have learned is that you can sometimes discern what a person is called of God to do by seeing what the enemy is fighting the most. The enemy does not want any of us doing great exploits for God so He will try his best to attack you in the very area you are called to. He is the one that will always tell you that you are not good enough; you will never overcome that fear; you will never succeed; you will always make a fool out of yourself. Those are all lies!!!

God is the one that will always build you up, comfort and edify you, and tell you that you can do all things through Christ Jesus. He will always tell you that nothing is impossible with Him.

The enemy is like a roaring lion. He will talk a lot of trash to you but this is what you have to do in response. Run towards that roar. If he is trying to convince you that you will never be a public speaker then you take every opportunity to speak publicly. The more you do it, the more the fear of it will leave. That same principle applies to many other areas also. Just do it afraid!!! God is on your side, and that means you will always win in the end.

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Philippians 1:6)