Be Not Afraid! God Does Not Call the Qualified; He Qualifies the Called

Do you ever think, “God could never use me because I am…”

• not patient enough
• not “holy” enough
• not organized enough
• not courageous enough
• not outgoing enough
• not experienced enough
• not good enough
• not cool enough
• not rich enough
• not worthy enough
• not pretty enough
• not talented enough
• not selfless enough
• not familiar enough with the bible 
• not comfortable enough with public speaking
• not kind enough
• not ______________ enough (fill in the blank)
• etc.

But, God doesn’t always call people who are obviously qualified to help Him build His kingdom. As a matter of fact, it is not uncommon at all for Him to call people who seem to be unqualified. But, He does qualify the called. 

One thing that is for sure is that God has a mission for you and you will find meaning and purpose, joy and peace in fulfilling it. He alone knows all of the gifts that are hidden in your soul. He qualifies us by calling us to a certain role that will bring those gifts into the open and then by helping to develop them as we work in that role. Whatever is lacking to our abilities, He provides through other people He inspires to help us. 

However, He can’t call you and qualify you for this mission if you are not connected to him through prayer. He himself said, 

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). 

It is necessary to be able to recognize his “voice” - his inspirations - in your heart to be able to discern a call from Him and to find the courage to take a leap of faith and do what He is asking you to do. Mark my words, it is not uncommon for Him to place a person in a position that he or she is, humanly speaking, not a suitable candidate and one for which they will need his constant help and grace. Spending time with Him in prayer is how you learn to hear his voice, gain the strength to follow His will for you and obtain the grace you will need for each step of the way. So...

• Spend time with God in prayer for 30 minutes a day. Here is a wonderful method of mental prayer. This is so important! Prayer is the answer to every problem.
• During those 30 minutes, read Scripture and apply it to your life.
• Use a Scripture based devotional. I love Divine Intimacy by Tan Books.
• Before going to bed, examine your day. Follow these 5 steps:
  • Give thanks to God for his blessing
  • Ask Him for the grace of light to know your sins and to reject them
  • Review your thoughts, words, and actions for what may have been in opposition to the divine commandments
  • Ask for forgiveness for your mistakes
  • Then make a commitment to change. Make the resolution to take one concrete step in your effort to change. 
• Don't miss Mass on Sundays or Holy Days. We are made to worship. If we don't worship God, we will worship something else. Go more than that if possible! 
• Make sure you are in the State of Grace before receiving Holy Communion. Go to Confession a.s.a.p. if you are not.
• Make of yourself a capacity and God will make Himself a torrent. 

If we do these things, we will learn to hear God’s voice leading us to follow his will and to step out and do things that might be way out of our comfort zone. 

Never forget, God looks at things very differently than we do. He sees everything all at once. He not only sees us right now but he also sees what we are capable of becoming and doing with His grace. 

Throughout scripture we see this! God frequently called unusual people from unusual places to serve Him in ways they felt totally unqualified for:

• Simon Peter cried, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”
• Moses said more or less, “God, you have to be joking, I have no public speaking skills."
• Jeremiah said, “I’m too young.”

Yes, we are weak and sinful and it is true that we are not worthy, qualified enough or fit to stand in God’s presence and serve Him. But that is not what God is focusing on because God does not call the qualified, God qualifies the called.

Scripture is full of stories of men and women who experienced this:

• Jacob was a cheater.
• Simon Peter was emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper.
• Andrew had no leadership qualities or experience in leadership.
• The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, placed personal interest above the mission.
• David had an affair, conceived a child, and had the husband killed.
• Jonah ran away from God and wasn't happy for the good fortunes of others.
• Thomas was a doubter and his questioning attitude could have been a cause for negitive morale.
• Matthew was dishonest in business
• James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus were radicals.
• Sarah was impatient.
• Elijah was depressed.
• Martha was a worrier.
• Miriam was a gossiper.
• Zacchaeus was short and cheated people.
• Moses stuttered.
• Abraham was old.
• Noah got drunk.
• Paul was a murderer.
• Gideon was insecure..
• Lazarus was dead. 

God used ordinary, weak and sinful people to do great things.  He will work the same in our life if we love him and turn to him and remain with him in daily prayer. He will even use our past failings for a good purpose. Saint Paul tells us in Romans 8:28 “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.”

God often calls people to do things they never thought they could do. 

God does not call the qualified. He qualifies the called.