What’s That in Your Hand? When God Uses What You Already Have

Have you ever felt like God was asking you to step into something bigger than yourself? Maybe it was a job opportunity, a leadership role, or a chance to serve in a way that felt totally outside your comfort zone. If so, you know that mix of excitement and fear—the “Can I really do this?” feeling.

Moses knew that feeling too.

When we meet him in Exodus 4, he’s a shepherd—an exiled prince who has spent 40 years wandering in the desert, convinced that his life is little more than a series of missed opportunities. Then, out of nowhere, God calls him to something huge—to go back to Egypt, confront Pharaoh, and lead an entire nation to freedom. Moses, understandably, has a lot of doubts.

And how does God respond? He doesn’t give Moses a grand strategy. He doesn’t hand him an army or a playbook. He simply asks:

“What’s that in your hand?” (Exodus 4:2)

Moses looks down. It’s a shepherd’s staff. Just a piece of wood. A tool he’s used for years to guide sheep, defend them, and provide for his family. A symbol of his everyday, ordinary life.

But when Moses places it in God’s hands, that ordinary staff becomes extraordinary.

It turns into a snake. It will later part the Red Sea. It will be used to bring water from a rock. That simple, everyday staff—now called “the staff of God” (Exodus 4:20)—becomes a tool for miracles.

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God Uses What You Already Have

Moses thought he needed something more—more skill, more eloquence, more authority. But God showed him that what he already had was enough, if he was willing to trust Him with it.

The same is true for us.

So often, we hesitate to step into God’s calling because we feel unqualified or ill-equipped. We think, If only I had more experience… If only I was more talented… If only I had more resources…

But what if God is simply asking:
"What’s in your hand?"

Your time. Your skills. Your relationships. Your finances. Your access to certain people or places. These are the “staffs” in your life—ordinary things that, when surrendered to God, can become extraordinary tools in His hands.

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From “What If” to “What’s That”

Notice Moses’ first response to God’s call in Exodus 4:1: “What if they do not believe me?”

He starts with fear, insecurity, and worst-case scenarios. But God shifts the conversation from “What if?” to “What’s that?”

Fear focuses on the unknown. Faith focuses on what’s already in our hands.

So here’s the challenge: Instead of asking “What if I fail?” or “What if I’m not enough?”, start asking “What has God already given me that He wants to use?”

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Your Next Step

Moses’ story reminds us that stepping into God’s calling isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about taking the next step of faith. Maybe for you, that means:

• Using your skills to serve others.
• Investing your time in someone who needs encouragement.
• Opening your home to build relationships.
• Saying “yes” to an opportunity that scares you.

Whatever it is, trust that God can use what’s in your hand—even if it feels small or insignificant.

Because when we place our super-normal things in the hands of a supernatural God, we step into a life that is anything but ordinary.

Reflection Questions

1. What’s something “ordinary” in your life—your skills, time, relationships—that God might be asking you to offer to Him?
2. Have you ever let fear or insecurity keep you from stepping into something God was calling you to do? How did that impact you?
3. What is one small step of faith you can take this week to trust God with what’s in your hand?

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