unqualified

"A person who has been divorced may never hold this position." It was like a punch to the gut. I didn't disagree with the statement by any means and understood the intention behind it.

"It's proof that you're a person of faithfulness," one of the ladies whispered to her neighbor, completely unaware I could hear her. Also unaware that I was divorced.

The position was not up for grabs, nor was it one I had previously considered. But now I knew I would always and forever be unqualified. That even if, by a big stretch, it came open and I threw my name in the hat, I would be removed immediately. Not because I couldn't do it or because God hasn't equipped me with the skills and abilities to do it. But because I have been through a divorce and that would blacklist me forever.

I thought I would never be useful to God the day the divorce was finalized. I never advocated for divorce or desired such an outcome, and as a new divorcee, I believed that I would be more of an embarrassment to God than anything. With my obvious flaws and failures, I would never be useful.  But the truth is that, when it comes to being used by God, no one is actually qualified.

So if you feel unqualified to be used by God, you’re in good company. And if you believe God could never use you, then your view of God, of his power and ability, needs to be re-evaluated.

In his letter to the church at Corinth, Paul wrote, “I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

It’s not because of your perfection or qualification that God uses you. And it’s not even your own strength that God uses when He does choose to use you. It is His own strength He’s using. Strength that is being displayed through your weakness.

God has not called you to do everything. But God has called you. He has appointed you to serve Him. Thorn or not, it doesn’t matter to God. Because when you surrender and submit to what God has asked of you, He will work through you to accomplish it. His power, his perfection, and his strength are what He uses, not yours.

Don’t hide your weakness, my friend. Entrust it to God. Offer it up to Him and be willing to be used. Because God’s power transforms our human weakness and he “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20)