When You Feel Unqualified
It's so easy to say that I am unqualified.
All you have to do is take a sneak peek into my life or my mind and it becomes painfully clear that I do not meet the qualifications.
I have this imaginary qualifying list I use as a measuring stick to determine if I am adequate enough to be used by God. I hold it up against all of my shortcomings and read the mark:
Spazzed on my children - DISQUALIFIED!
Grumbled at my husband - DISQUALIFIED!
Showed up late for church - DISQUALIFIED!
The list goes on and on . . .
A number of years ago it reached its climax. After the completion of my minister’s credential examination, I came home and my youngest son sweetly called me “Pastor Mommy”. The reality of my calling and the awareness of my shortcomings collided!
I thought about all of the times I had yelled and snapped at him in moments of frustration. The visual picture of myself resembled a crazy monster more than a credentialed minister.
I once again held that up against the measuring stick and read the word - DISQUALIFIED!
How the enemy loves to scream that word at me. He loves to point out all of the things that would seem to make me ineligible to fulfill my call. He desperately tries to fixate my attention on my flaws so I miss seeing the one thing . . . the one thing that truly qualifies me . . . God!
The apostle Paul reveals to us this qualifying truth,
“It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant.” 2 Corinthians 3:5-6
It is not our shortcomings that determine whether or not we are qualified to be used by God. Nor is it our strengths and abilities that enable us to fulfill the call.
Instead, it is simply our faith and trust in God. It’s the final mark on that stick, and it’s the only one that reads - QUALIFIED!
I often wonder if the saints of the bible were tempted to use the same measuring stick.
Paul a Christian killer, Rahab a prostitute, Moses an old man, and Mary a young girl I’m sure heard the disparaging and discouraging lies of the enemy hissing DISQUALIFIED in their ears.
Or maybe they made a really wise choice, and decided to break the stick!
How about you? Are you ready to break the stick? What are the things you are holding up against it, and hearing the word DISQUALIFIED shouted at you?
Maybe you, like me, have gone through your own list: too old, too young, not good enough, not smart enough, current struggles and weaknesses, or a past filled with mistakes.
No matter what your perceived short comings may be, the truth is this . . . God has already qualified you for whatever He is calling you to.
Let’s step out together in confident faith and trust in God, break that stick once and for all, and remember we have already met the only mark that is needed!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Diane Swan is a Credentialed Assemblies of God Minister, Licensed Professional Counselor, Speaker, and Writer who is passionate about helping ladies live victorious lives in Christ. Diane experienced the radical, transforming power of Christ through salvation at the age of twenty-six, and has since spent every day telling others about the redeeming, restoring, and renewing goodness of God.