How often have you felt that wave of inadequacy when asked to serve in your church? Leading a Bible study? Organizing a fundraiser? Teaching Sunday school? Even when the task aligns with your everyday skills, the spiritual context can trigger a sense of being "unqualified." But perhaps it's not about qualifications; perhaps it's about feeling unworthy.
If you've ever struggled with past failures, know that God's grace is greater. As I shared in my post, "No Failure Is Fatal," God doesn't dwell on your past. Through Jesus, He forgives your mistakes and redeems even those beyond your control. He uses your experiences, even your failures, to strengthen you, just as He did with Abraham, Moses, David, Peter, and countless others. We all stumble, but God's work continues.
The Power of the Holy Spirit
Imagine if we remained trapped in our pre-Holy Spirit selves! Acts 2:38 reminds us that through repentance, baptism, and faith, we receive the Holy Spirit. This gift empowers us to live as God intends, equipping us for His purposes. While we may falter, the Holy Spirit provides the ability to rise and serve.
God chooses to accomplish His work through imperfect people like us.
Isaiah: A prayer warrior who felt utterly unworthy. Yet, God purified him and used him powerfully.
Isaiah 6:5-7 NIV [5] “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” [6] Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. [7] With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
David: A flawed king, an adulterer, and a murderer. Yet, God called him a "man after His own heart."
2 Samuel 12:13 NIV Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.
Acts 13:22 NIV After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’
Peter: A disciple who denied Jesus. Yet, Jesus restored him and then commissioned him to feed His sheep.
Matthew 26:69-75 NIV [69] Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. [70] But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. [71] Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” [72] He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” [73] After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” [74] Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. [75] Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
John 21:15-17 NIV [15] When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” [16] Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” [17] The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
Paul: A “big time” persecutor of the church. Yet, he became one of its greatest apostles.
1 Corinthians 15:9-10 NIV [9] For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. [10] But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
The list of "unqualified" individuals whom God used is extensive. Maybe you're wrestling with hidden flaws, past mistakes, or the fear of failure. These feelings are common, but they don't define your potential.
It's God's Choice
God isn't seeking those who are perfectly qualified by worldly standards. He seeks those who are willing to be led by the Holy Spirit. Look at Jesus' disciples; they were mostly ordinary, uneducated men. Yet, they transformed the world.
Acts 4:13 NIV When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Matthew 4:18-22 NIV [18] As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. [19] “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” [20] At once they left their nets and followed him. [21] Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, [22] and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
God often chooses the foolish and weak to shame the wise and powerful.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 NIV [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 foolish things 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.
Don't let insecurity and perceived weaknesses hold you back. It's not about your qualifications; it's about God's. Remember Moses' hesitation and God's powerful response.
Exodus 4:10-12 NIV [10] Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” [11] The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? [12] Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
And recall God's words to Paul: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness"
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NIV [7] or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. [8] Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. [9] But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. [10] That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
God Equips Those He Calls
God equips those He calls and he will provide everything they need to do His will.
Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV[20] Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, [21] equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Salvation is a gift of grace, and we are created for good works prepared in advance.
Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— [9] not by works, so that no one can boast. [10] For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
If God has called you, He will qualify you. Embrace His grace, step out in faith, and trust that He will work through you.
If you've ever struggled with past failures, know that God's grace is greater. As I shared in my post, "No Failure Is Fatal," God doesn't dwell on your past. Through Jesus, He forgives your mistakes and redeems even those beyond your control. He uses your experiences, even your failures, to strengthen you, just as He did with Abraham, Moses, David, Peter, and countless others. We all stumble, but God's work continues.
The Power of the Holy Spirit
Imagine if we remained trapped in our pre-Holy Spirit selves! Acts 2:38 reminds us that through repentance, baptism, and faith, we receive the Holy Spirit. This gift empowers us to live as God intends, equipping us for His purposes. While we may falter, the Holy Spirit provides the ability to rise and serve.
God chooses to accomplish His work through imperfect people like us.
Isaiah: A prayer warrior who felt utterly unworthy. Yet, God purified him and used him powerfully.
Isaiah 6:5-7 NIV [5] “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” [6] Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. [7] With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
David: A flawed king, an adulterer, and a murderer. Yet, God called him a "man after His own heart."
2 Samuel 12:13 NIV Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.
Acts 13:22 NIV After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’
Peter: A disciple who denied Jesus. Yet, Jesus restored him and then commissioned him to feed His sheep.
Matthew 26:69-75 NIV [69] Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. [70] But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. [71] Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” [72] He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” [73] After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” [74] Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. [75] Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
John 21:15-17 NIV [15] When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” [16] Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” [17] The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
Paul: A “big time” persecutor of the church. Yet, he became one of its greatest apostles.
1 Corinthians 15:9-10 NIV [9] For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. [10] But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
The list of "unqualified" individuals whom God used is extensive. Maybe you're wrestling with hidden flaws, past mistakes, or the fear of failure. These feelings are common, but they don't define your potential.
It's God's Choice
God isn't seeking those who are perfectly qualified by worldly standards. He seeks those who are willing to be led by the Holy Spirit. Look at Jesus' disciples; they were mostly ordinary, uneducated men. Yet, they transformed the world.
Acts 4:13 NIV When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Matthew 4:18-22 NIV [18] As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. [19] “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” [20] At once they left their nets and followed him. [21] Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, [22] and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
God often chooses the foolish and weak to shame the wise and powerful.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 NIV [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 foolish things 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.
Don't let insecurity and perceived weaknesses hold you back. It's not about your qualifications; it's about God's. Remember Moses' hesitation and God's powerful response.
Exodus 4:10-12 NIV [10] Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” [11] The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? [12] Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
And recall God's words to Paul: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness"
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NIV [7] or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. [8] Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. [9] But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. [10] That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
God Equips Those He Calls
God equips those He calls and he will provide everything they need to do His will.
Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV[20] Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, [21] equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Salvation is a gift of grace, and we are created for good works prepared in advance.
Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— [9] not by works, so that no one can boast. [10] For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
If God has called you, He will qualify you. Embrace His grace, step out in faith, and trust that He will work through you.
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