Unqualified
I have been listening to a podcast about how to hear God’s voice and one of the recommendations is to sit in silence with God and ask Him a particular question: Father, by what name do you call me?
I asked the question and then I listened… and listened… and listened. I thought about the possible names I might hear, like beloved, daughter, dear child. But I didn’t hear those words, even though I knew they were true. When I was ready to give up, figuring that I wouldn’t get a specific answer from God, I heard this name: Unqualified. And I laughed because I knew it was completely true even though it was totally unexpected.
Many years ago, when I was told I was unqualified, I did not receive it as well. I had begun a small group called Sisters in Faith, gathering together women from different churches for a retreat. I had done three retreats when I was told that I was unqualified. This was not said by anyone in the retreat but by someone else in authority. And I was angry. I had been leading retreats in the corporate world for 20 years and was very successful, so who was he to say that I was unqualified to lead a retreat for women of faith? Now, many years later, I can see my pride was the cause of my strong reaction.
In one sense, the man was incorrect in his judgment. He thought I was not capable of leading a retreat because I had not trained to be a leader for spiritual retreats, only for business ones. In another sense, he was correct. I was unqualified to lead a spiritual retreat. I didn’t have a direct line to God. I couldn’t read souls. I didn’t have the gift of healing or any of the other charismatic gifts you read about in scripture. I had a long way to go in my faith journey, so who was I to presume to lead others spiritually? That’s a perspective I have now that I lacked in the past.
When, in my prayer, I heard the word “Unqualified,” I immediately understood. I am unqualified for anything I’m doing for God. But so were the apostles. They had no experience communicating to the masses. For the most part, they were uneducated. They didn’t have any connections. They were definitely unqualified, and yet they were chosen. Me too!
I was unqualified to write a book, but I have written three. There was a time when I struggled to write a simple sales letter. We talked on the phone. Here is the information you requested. I’ll call you shortly to discuss it. I would rewrite my sales letter 5 or 6 times. That’s the kind of writer I was. But when I started writing for God, the words flowed. The Holy Spirit inspired me even though I was unqualified.
I was unqualified to self-publish a book. Writing is one thing, but getting it into the hands of readers – that’s another story. It requires a lot of skills I don’t have. But God put people in my life to help me through the process. Now that part is easy. I’m still unqualified to do it, but it’s getting done. God’s getting it done.
I was unqualified to start a podcast. Technology is not my friend, and there’s a lot of technology involved in recording. Again, God put people in my life to get started and keep it going for two years now.
I was unqualified to do spiritual direction. I went through the training and learned a lot, but still worried that I would mess it up. I thought I needed to study before each meeting, but I was wrong. The key was to acknowledge that I was unqualified and get out of the way of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual Direction is His job. I’m just an instrument.
I became a facilitator for a support group for those with anxiety and depression and I didn’t want to do it. I am completely unqualified. I am not a therapist and I’ve not struggled with anxiety or depression, so who am I to help those who struggle? But God clearly has me leading that group – not because I am qualified but because I am not.
How does this make sense? When I admit that I am not qualified, God can use me. If I am qualified, I will do it all on my own. That’s not what God wants.
Think of the apostles. When Jesus told them he would be crucified, they said they would die with him. In their arrogance, they didn’t pray for themselves when Jesus told them to in the Garden of Gethsemane. And then they all ran away. They thought they were qualified but they were not. They counted on their own strength.
Moses was at the opposite extreme. He was called by God to go to Pharaoh to free Israel from slavery and he said no – I’m not qualified. God’s reply was, I know, but I’ll be with you. Three times Moses objected and finally God said, Okay. I’ll let Aaron go with you.
How often do we reject God’s call in our life because we think we are unqualified? In every case, God is saying – Yes, you are unqualified. That’s why I chose you. That way you will know that it’s me who is working and not you. You will rely on my strength and not yours. You will stop trying so hard and let me do the heavy lifting. You will bring glory to me because everyone will know it’s not you, the unqualified one, who accomplished these great works.
I have a friend who knows God is calling her to begin a new group in the church, and she is afraid. She doesn’t think she can do it. She knows this is a good thing to do but feels unqualified. God is speaking to her just as he did to Moses. You’re right. You are unqualified. But do it anyway because I will be with you. This is how you will bring glory to me. Let me use you as my instrument.
When we recognize that we are unqualified, we are embracing our poverty. We place our trust in God instead of our strengths and skills. We know that without Him we can do nothing. With Him, everything is possible.
I am unqualified and I love it. That’s why I laughed when I heard the word Unqualified in meditation. It's perfect! It's not going to stop me from writing another book, recording another podcast, or leading a group at church. It can only make me better because I no longer count on myself. I place all of my confidence in God.
Don’t be afraid of your lack of qualifications. Embrace them and know that you are in good company.
Questions for Prayer:
1. What are you hesitating to do for God because you feel unqualified?
2. When have you been unqualified for something God called you to do? How did God work through you in that calling?
3. What is your biggest obstacle in responding to God’s call when you feel unqualified?