One Awkward Moment

Recently, after church one Sunday night, I ran into a local variety store to purchase some plastic cups for an event at work. As I approached the checkout counter, I noticed that I was the only customer in the store. When I asked the cashier how she was doing, she replied sarcastically that she was “living the dream.” Not knowing how to respond to this break in the usual exchange of pleasantries, I smiled feebly and racked my brain for what to do next. 

In that moment, I felt compelled to share the gospel with her. I wanted to ask her if there was a way I could pray for her, and I hoped to start a conversation that way. Instead, I froze, accepted the receipt, said “have a good night,” and went out to the parking lot. As I did so, I was kicking myself for not obeying the prompting to attempt a more meaningful exchange. 

I’m sure that I’m not alone in this experience, and this was far from the first time I have felt led to share Jesus with someone and regretted my inaction. As Christians, we know that we are called to share the gospel. We talk about it, read about it, and preach about it; however, those one-on-one conversations can be difficult to attempt.  

Maybe we are scared that we will be rejected or made fun of by the person we are sharing with. Perhaps we feel that we don’t know enough and won’t be able to answer the questions they may have. However, whatever excuses we might have, the command to share our faith remains the same. 

My failure to obey the Great Commission reminds me of when Moses received the call from God to go to Pharaoh and lead His people out of slavery. Moses gave God several excuses, one of which was that he was “not eloquent…but I am slow of speech and of tongue” (Exodus 4:10). God’s reply was, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak” (Exodus 4:11–12). 

Wow. What a humbling passage. When we don’t feel adequate, God gives us these assurances: He made us, He goes with us, and He will give us the words. We don’t have to rely on our own strength or knowledge. We don’t have to be talented or charismatic. We simply have to be willing to lay down our pride and obey the God who gave us the gifts of speech, hearing, and sight to use them for His glory and gospel. 

The Christian band Casting Crowns has a song entitled “One Awkward Moment.” This song speaks about how sharing Jesus can be challenging and creates an awkward moment, but we must look past that and share Him anyway, because “one awkward moment could be the one that saves a life.” 

After that encounter, I was convicted of my need to share the gospel in my everyday, personal life. The gospel is an urgent message. We don’t know who will accept it or how long they have to respond. Therefore, we must be obedient in sharing when the Lord gives us opportunities. Yes, it is difficult. Yes, it can be awkward. Yes, we may feel inadequate. But we go forth in the power and strength of Christ who promised us, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). 

Please join me in praying that God will make us more bold, give us a burden for the lost, and provide us with the humility to follow His prompting.