Start with the Stutter, Lead with the Stick

In partnership with

Good morning Grinder,

Have you ever felt like you’re not good enough?

Not smart enough, skilled enough, confident enough? Maybe you’ve wrestled with self-doubt—thoughts like, “I could never do that,” or “I’m just not cut out for it.” Maybe you've got a "stutter" of your own—not necessarily in your speech, but in your confidence, your courage, or your belief in yourself.

If that hits home, then let me tell you a story. It’s an ancient one, but it carries a truth as fresh as today’s sunrise.

Let’s talk about Moses—yes, that Moses. The one who parted the Red Sea and stood up to Pharaoh. But before all that? Moses had two things going against him: a stick and a stutter. Or, rather, two things going for him—though he didn’t see it that way at the time.

The Stutter: "I Can’t Speak"

When God called Moses to go back to Egypt and lead the Israelites to freedom, Moses didn’t puff up with pride or leap at the opportunity. Nope. He protested.

“God, I can’t do this. I don’t speak well. I’m awkward, I trip over my words, I’ll mess this up.”

Ever felt that way?

Moses believed his weakness disqualified him from greatness. He thought that a stutter—something that made him feel small, insecure, and unworthy—was proof he wasn’t enough.

But what if your weakness is actually part of your assignment?

God didn’t look at Moses and see disqualification. He saw potential. And He didn’t erase the stutter—He worked with it. God told Moses, “I will be with your mouth.” In other words, your imperfection is not an obstacle; it’s a platform for My power to shine.

Let that sink in: You don't have to be perfect to be powerful.

So what’s your “stutter”? What is that thing that makes you hesitate, hold back, or feel like you're not enough? Is it your fear of public speaking? A past mistake? A current struggle?

And more importantly—are you letting that “stutter” stop you from stepping into your calling?

The Stick: “What’s in Your Hand?”

When Moses kept resisting, God asked him a question that seems simple at first:

Moses looked down and saw a stick. Just an ordinary shepherd’s staff. Nothing fancy. Nothing magical.

And then God told him to throw it on the ground—and it turned into a snake. That was the beginning of a series of miracles that would shake empires.

That same stick—ordinary, unimpressive—would become the tool Moses used to part the Red Sea, bring water from a rock, and demonstrate divine power again and again.

So here’s the question for you: What’s in your hand?

Maybe you’re holding a camera, a paintbrush, a notebook, a guitar, a laptop. Maybe you’ve got compassion in your spirit, creativity in your mind, or a story that needs to be told. Maybe it looks small. Maybe it feels insignificant.

But what if your “stick” is more powerful than you think?

You don’t need to go find something spectacular. You already have something. Something ordinary that, when placed in the right hands—or when surrendered with faith—can do the extraordinary.

Have you dismissed your gifts because they don’t look flashy or perfect? Have you overlooked the stick in your hand?

When a Stutter Meets a Stick

Here's the beautiful twist: Moses had both. The stutter and the stick. One was his weakness, the other his ordinary tool. And together? They became the combination that led a nation to freedom.

This is more than just a story—it’s a template for how personal development actually works.

It’s not about waiting until you’ve got it all figured out, polished, and perfected. It’s about saying yes with what you do have. It’s about showing up with your shaky voice and your simple stick and trusting that something bigger is at work.

Personal growth doesn’t come from avoiding the uncomfortable—it comes from embracing it.

So let me ask you:

• What have you been disqualifying yourself from because of your "stutter"?

• What dream have you been putting off because you think you need more time, more talent, more polish?

• What if you started with what’s in your hand, right now, just as it is?

Your Ordinary is Someone Else’s Miracle

Sometimes we forget this: What feels small to you might be life-changing to someone else.

Moses likely never imagined that his stick would be remembered thousands of years later. Or that his weakness would become the backdrop of one of history’s greatest rescue missions. But here we are.

Your story, your scars, your stutter—they matter. They shape you. They soften you. They connect you with others. And when you stop hiding them, they become your superpower.

Don’t wait until you feel ready. Start with the stutter. Use the stick. Walk in faith. The path will unfold as you go.

One Final Question…

If God asked you today, “What’s in your hand?”—how would you answer?

Would you say, “Nothing special,” or would you dare to believe that even your ordinary can be a catalyst for the extraordinary?

This week, take a moment to reflect. Write it down. Speak it out. And then—do one small, courageous thing with your “stick,” even if your voice still shakes.

You don’t need perfection. Just permission—to begin.

With courage and belief in you,

N. Amadeus

Looking for unbiased, fact-based news? Join 1440 today.

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

Subscribe to 1440 today.