BY MARTY HARDELL
You are the kind of person God wants to use.
You want to share your faith. You want to disciple someone. You want to have that conversation that actually matters—the one that points someone to Jesus. Deep down, you don’t want to stay silent. You don’t want to miss the moments God puts right in front of you.
But something holds you back.
Like Saul, you’ve been chosen—you are Christ’s ambassador, entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation and appointed to bear lasting fruit. He has changed you, you’ve seen Him move, you’ve experienced His grace, and you know the truth. And yet, when the moment comes—when there’s an opening, when the conversation turns, when you feel that nudge—you hesitate. You shrink back. You stay quiet.
Scripture says that when Saul was about to be revealed as king, “he has hidden himself among the baggage.” (1 Samuel 10:22) And if you’re honest, you know that place. Not physically—but internally. You hide among the baggage.
The baggage of “What if I say it wrong?”
The baggage of “What if they reject me?”
The baggage of “I’m not a theologian.”
The baggage of “Someone else could do this better.”
The problem isn’t just the situation in front of you. It’s deeper than that. Externally, you’re in real moments with real people who need hope. Internally, you feel like an imposter—like you don’t know enough, like you’re not equipped. And at the core, something about that feels off… because if the gospel is true, why should fear be louder than truth?
You’re not alone in this. I understand what it feels like to want to speak up for Jesus but feel unqualified to do it. I understand that tension—between calling and hesitation.
And here’s what you need to know: God has never used perfect messengers—only willing ones. The disciples weren’t experts. They were fishermen, tax collectors, ordinary people. And yet, God used them to change the world.
You don’t need to know everything. You just need to be willing to say something. But you need a clear way forward. So here’s the plan.
First, recognize the fear for what it is. Name it. It’s not truth—it’s just wind and waves.
Second, redirect your focus. This is something I’ve learned in a very practical way. I used to ride dirt bikes, and now I spend a lot of time on a mountain bike. One thing that’s been burned into me over the years is this: you go where you’re looking. When the trail gets fast and technical, everything in you wants to stare at the obstacles—the trees, the rocks, the drop-offs—because you’re trying to avoid them. But every rider learns the hard way: if you fix your eyes on the tree, you’re probably going to hit it. The only way through is to stay locked in on the trail, on the path in front of you. Where your focus goes, your direction follows.
The same is true when it comes to sharing your faith. If you focus on what might go wrong, you’ll freeze. If you focus on your lack of knowledge, you’ll stay silent. But if you fix your eyes on Jesus—and on the person in front of you who needs Him—you’ll find the courage to move forward.
Third, take the next step. You don’t have to preach a sermon. You don’t have to have all the answers. You can ask a question. Share your story. Offer to pray. Take one small, faithful step.
This is how you live on mission. Not by being impressive. But by being available.
“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,”
-said The Lord Almighty
Now it’s time to act. Don’t wait until you feel ready—because you may never feel ready. Step into the conversation. Say the thing God is prompting you to say. Trust that the Holy Spirit will meet you there. Because if you don’t, you’ll stay stuck. You’ll keep missing moments. You’ll keep wondering “what if.” You’ll keep watching opportunities pass by, not because God didn’t open the door—but because fear kept you from walking through it.
But that’s not your story. When you step out in faith, everything changes. You begin to see God work through you in ways you never expected. You gain confidence—not in yourself, but in Him. You start to realize that it was never about having the perfect words—it was about having a willing heart.
You begin to live out Micah 6:8 in a new way—acting justly by speaking truth, loving mercy by meeting people with grace, and walking humbly by depending fully on God. And slowly, you become the kind of person who no longer hides.
The kind of person who steps into spiritual conversations.
The kind of person who disciples others.
The kind of person who says ‘yes’ when God prompts.
So come out from the baggage. Someone’s eternity may be on the other side of your obedience. The calling hasn’t changed. And neither has the God who gave it.
Marty Hardell co-leads a CBMC Connect3 team, facilitates Leadership Coach Training practicums, and volunteers with the outstanding OKC CBMC leadership team. He is passionate about evangelism and discipleship, investing in others through one-on-one engagement via Operation Timothy, small group discipleship hosted in his home, and serving alongside his C3 group in the Kairos prison ministry.
Marty spent 31 years with a global telecommunications company, holding a range of technical leadership roles. He now serves as a business systems implementation consultant.