Qualified or Unqualified?
"God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called." I love that saying, and it's one that has stuck with me for years now. Every time I doubt my ability, or find myself pleading with God that I can't do something because I'm not knowledgeable enough, or I don't feel like I am the best choice for the role, I am reminded of the above quote.
Truth is, almost everything I have done or tried in life, I have thought that I was failing in some way and someone else would have been a better choice. The doubts are real I tell you!
For example: This sweet little ministry is truly a gift from God, but it wasn't something I put my hand up for in the beginning. I was away at a conference when God asked me to begin writing for Him, and share my creations with women everywhere. And for weeks, I refused to do it. "I'm not qualified. There's someone who will represent what a Christian woman should be better than me. I don't have the answers to all their questions." I would list every doubt over and over, until one day, God answered back with a simple, "Then don't do it." Ah....what now?
And in that moment, I realised that I was about to walk away from a gift, a partnership of working side by side with God. You see, He wasn't asking me to be all and know all. He was just asking me to be willing and I'm so glad that I graciously took up His calling for my life.
When God calls us to partner with Him and trust Him with our future and His purpose we get to see God's character and how deep His love is for us. We see this in how He calls us unqualified children and shows His grace and His power through us as He partners with us!
Time and time again we see how God called those in His written word who, without their Heavenly Father's power, they could not have done what they did. David would not have had the courage or aim to take down Goliath. Moses would not have had the confidence nor the strength to lead an entire people out of Egypt. Look at Esther, Joseph, Daniel... He positioned them into situations that would scare many of us, and then showed all with eyes to see or ears to hear that when these people partnered with Him, trusted Him, miracles happened and through Him they were qualified for the task in which He partnered with them to show His wonders and set others free.
And yes... I have to go there and discuss some of the Disciples and whether they were qualified. I admit there were times where I was thinking as I read the Gospels, shaking my head in amusement, why did Jesus choose some of them? Take Luke 9 for example about Jesus and His disciples. Bear in mind this is in the late stages of Jesus ministry where you would think by this time they would have been solid in their understanding and pretty well qualified. They have come into a town called Caesarea Philippi, where He reveals to them what is to take place with His death and resurrection. Then He takes three of His disciples, Peter, John & James up to the mountain to experience the "transfiguration." Where they see Him talking to "angelic beings." But Jesus is talking with Elijah and Moses.
To make a long story short after a few other things, they set off from there and head back to Jerusalem and take a short cut through the Samaritan mountains. Jesus sent people ahead to secure them a place to stay in Samaria but the samaritans were very uninviting and would not let the disciples make arrangements for their Rabbi. When James and John saw the behaviour of the samaritans they basically asked Jesus if they could call down fire from Heaven and teach these people a lesson and Destroy the Samaritan village. Say what again!!!! But Jesus replied with teaching and correction, "I did not come to Destroy men's lives, but to save them." He was teaching them that His ministry was going to be a little different than the Old Testament.
51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven,Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him;53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them[b]?”55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them.56 Then he and his disciples went to another village. -Luke 9:51-56
My point of sharing that story in a quick and simple form was this. Even the disciples who walked beside Jesus and saw Him face to face on a daily basis were still not qualified, but Jesus called them anyway and through Him and then the Holy Spirit that came in His place they were qualified because of Him and how He could work with and through them.
26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.27 But God chose the foolishthings of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
If I could leave you with anything today it would be this... If God has called you to partner with Him, then trust in His decision that you are the person for the task. I don't know what God is asking you to do, but He doesn't make mistakes. Don't miss out on the gift He is offering to partner with you in. And remember, His grace is a wonderful thing in the journey.
I pray this blessed you today. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram or sign up to my newsletter and please share this little ministry with those that need some encouragement from a woman just sharing her journey and thoughts.
Love Sarah, xx
