We think God uses the qualified. We think He uses the capable. We think He uses the confident. We think He uses the ones who have it together.
But the Bible does not teach that. The Bible shows us that God uses the unqualified. The ones who felt incapable. The ones who felt inadequate. The ones who felt least qualified.
This is what we forget. We think we need to be qualified. But God has always worked through people who felt unqualified.
Let me show you who He has used.
Who God Used
Turn with me to the book of Exodus. God is about to call Moses, and look what Moses says:
"Then Moses said to the Lord, 'O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.' So the Lord said to him, 'Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.'"
Exodus 4:10-12I am not eloquent. I am slow of speech. I am slow of tongue.
Moses felt unqualified. He did not think he could do it. He did not think he was capable.
But God used him anyway. God used the one who felt unqualified.
And then there is Gideon:
"Then the Lord turned to him and said, 'Go in this your might, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?' But he answered Him, 'O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father's house.' So He said to him, 'Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.'"
Judges 6:14-16My family is the weakest. I am the youngest.
Gideon felt unqualified. The weakest family. The youngest son.
But God used him anyway. God used the one who felt unqualified.
And then there is Jeremiah:
"Then said I, 'Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a child.' But the Lord said to me, 'Do not say, I am a child, for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,' says the Lord."
Jeremiah 1:6-8I am a child. I cannot speak.
Jeremiah felt unqualified. Too young. Cannot speak.
But God used him anyway. God used the one who felt unqualified.
And then there is Paul:
"And he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
2 Corinthians 12:9-10When I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul had a thorn in the flesh. He felt weak. He felt unqualified.
But God used him anyway. God used the one who felt unqualified.
Who We Think God Uses
So what do we think? We think God uses the eloquent. The capable. The confident. The ones who have it together.
But that is not who God uses. God uses the unqualified. The ones who feel incapable. The ones who feel inadequate.
Why? Because when we feel qualified, we take the credit. But when we feel unqualified, God gets the glory.
That is the pattern. God uses the weak so that the strength is clearly from Him.
This is what we forget. We think we need to be qualified. But God has always worked through people who felt unqualified.
And that includes you. That includes me.
Who God Uses Now
So what does this mean for us? It means that if you feel unqualified, you are exactly who God uses.
It means that if you feel incapable, you are exactly who God uses.
It means that if you feel inadequate, you are exactly who God uses.
Do not wait until you feel qualified. Do not wait until you feel capable. Do not wait until you feel adequate.
Because God uses the unqualified. That is who He has always used. That is who He still uses.
I know what it is to feel unqualified. I know what it is to feel incapable. I know what it is to feel inadequate.
And I know what it is to think: God cannot use me. I am not qualified. I am not capable. I am not enough.
But that is exactly who God uses. The ones who feel unqualified. The ones who feel incapable. The ones who feel inadequate.
That is the pattern. That is the way God works.
Because His power is made perfect in weakness. His strength is made perfect in our insufficiency.
That is what we need to hear. Not: Get qualified. But: Get weak. Because when we are weak, we are strong.
Try This Today
Ask yourself honestly: Do I feel unqualified? Bring that to Him in prayer. Ask Him to use you anyway. God has always worked through people who felt unqualified.
We think God uses the qualified. But He has always worked through the unqualified.
Moses felt unqualified. Gideon felt unqualified. Jeremiah felt unqualified. Paul felt unqualified.
And He uses us too. Even when we feel unqualified. Even when we feel incapable. Even when we feel inadequate.
That is the pattern. That is the way God works.
Because His power is made perfect in weakness.
Father, thank You for using the unqualified. Forgive me for waiting until I feel qualified. Teach me that when I am weak, I am strong. Use me anyway. In Jesus Name, Amen.
With honesty and hope,
Claire