Send to Kindleby: Staci Stallings
In preparing you for what you will face as a Sower of Jesus Seed, I must address the one excuse I hear time and again. Oh, the excuse is true enough–true enough, actually to get a lot of you to give up before you start. It goes like this:
“I’m not qualified to…”
Or the sister excuse: “I’m just not worthy to…”
Now you can fill in the blank with whatever you’re telling yourself you can’t do that God’s calling you to–read in church, sing in the choir, teach Sunday School, minister to women in a shelter, tutor children, become involved in CASA or another child organization, be a foster parent, volunteer at your child’s school or your grandchild’s school, etc. etc. etc.
I have heard this one excuse more than any other.
“How can I do that? I’m not qualified.”
“They asked me to read, but I’m just not good enough.”
“I hope they don’t ask me to lead that, I just don’t feel qualified.”
Well, it’s time to put an end to this lie because here’s the truth: God doesn’t call the qualified!
He doesn’t! Have you read the Bible?
If it’s a book of examples, you’re in good company.
Look at Moses, out there tending his sheep as far away from other people as he could get. The bush starts afire, and God speaks to Moses, telling him to go to Egypt. And what does Moses do? He starts listing all the reasons he’s not qualified! He’s got a lisp. He doesn’t speak very well or plainly. Besides he killed a guy and he’s wanted for murder back in Egypt.
Or let’s take Abraham. What did he do when God told him about his destiny filled with abundance and children? “I’m old, Lord. And my wife is old too.” Do you hear the echoes of “I’m not qualified”?
Even Jesus doubted His ability to go through with the plan in the Garden of Gethsemane. Why do you think He asked God to “let this cup pass Me by”?
We all feel that. Why? Because it’s true.
Really.
Think about it.
Are you qualified to help the God of the Universe do anything? I mean, what kind of resume would you have to have to even apply for that job?
St. Paul in his message to the Ephesians from The Message Bible says it this way:
“When it came to presenting the Message to people who had no background in God’s way, I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure that it had nothing to do with my natural abilities.” –Ephesians 3:8
If St. Paul didn’t feel equipped (qualified), then we certainly won’t. And that’s GOOD NEWS! Because it means that God isn’t sitting around fretting because you aren’t qualified. He equips the willing. He doesn’t wait for the qualified.
So if you don’t feel qualified or worthy of what He’s calling you to do… rejoice! You’re in very good company!
