"I Am"

Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I Am has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:13-14

The last few weeks of my life have brought about many situations that have been exciting but several have caused me to be concerned. I have recently changed jobs and taken on the responsibility of being the head football coach and athletic director at a new school. Although I have been involved in the game of football for over 30 years, both of these positions are a new experience for me. Each day in my new job there is a decision to make that I may have never considered before and my decisions now affect many people. Over the past few weeks I have found myself being much more alert to every situation because I never want to be unprepared to react in the correct way or to speak the correct words. As many of these moments have presented themselves I have had to deal with the voices of doubt that we as humans often allow to enter our minds. While going through the tension filled days of the interview process, the thoughts would enter my mind that said, “You are not ready for this”, to which God would say, “But I Am”. After being offered and accepting the position, the initial excitement was quickly replaced with the reality of many tasks to be done and many moments that are outside of my comfort zone. While waiting to speak to a large crowd at a community event, I thought to myself, “You are not a thrilling speaker”, to which God would say, “But I Am”. The morning I would meet my new team for the first time, the thought entered my mind that said, “What if you are not the leader these young men need”, to which God would reply, “You are not, but I Am”. And, as the hopes for the coming season begin to grow, I allow my mind to wonder if I am capable of meeting and exceeding these expectations. To which God replies again, “But I Am”.

As we go through the daily struggles of life or during the exciting moments we are blessed to experience, we can have faith that the Great I Am is always with us. In Joshua 1:9 He tells us, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” And in Hebrews 13:5 He tells us, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”. When we feel as though we are alone in the world, He will remind us that I Am with you!

Chad