Are You Feeling Unqualified?

Ian Revie

I replied, “The God of heaven will make sure we succeed. We’re his servants, and we are going to work rebuilding.”
Nehemiah 2:20 (MSG)

I don’t know if you feel like me these days as I get older: that for many things I need to step in to do, I am untrained. I have always thought that training gaps come in our younger years, but find that often new tasks and challenges are coming to me now. Maybe in our later years we see more of the need for things to be done, more urgency if you like.

When it comes to doing God’s will, God-ordained passions are considerably more important than any human ability we can contribute. So what do I do? Ask God first ‘is this part of Your plan?’ Then take the first step first!

Many examples of leadership come to mind where God calls us to step out: -

• With its walls torn down, Jerusalem was defenceless against her enemies. Nehemiah was given his vision from God! So, he assembled a team to rebuild the walls. He had no training for the job. He wasn’t an architect or a builder. Jerusalem was far away, and he had never been there. Any way you look at it, he was unqualified for the job – he could quite legitimately have not followed through to get the job done!

• Noah was a farmer, called to build a boat in the desert – not qualified for the job - he could quite legitimately have not followed through to get the job done!

• David was a shepherd, called to topple a Philistine champion – not qualified for the job - he could quite legitimately have not followed through to get the job done!

When it comes to doing God’s will, God-ordained visions need to be worked through & delivered even though we are ill equipped. In fact, God often uses us at our point of greatest inability.

But understand this: when God gives you a ‘burden’, or a ‘passion’, or a ‘vision’, you have a choice to make: to walk away or get the job done!

Nehemiah already had a good job. Being the king’s cupbearer was being his confidant & decision maker. He didn’t simply enjoy job security, he enjoyed the perks and privileges of his position. He would have been comfortable staying right where he was. But if he had chosen to do that, he would have missed God’s will; missed having a book named after him in the Bible, and you wouldn’t be reading about him right now!

Are you feeling unqualified? When God calls you, He equips you, resources you, guides you, and guarantees your success. Take the first step first!