Unqualified

Devotion for the Week...

Last week Paul and I went to a retirement dinner for one of the teachers at his school. Several people paid tribute to her, and as they started their speeches, almost all of them made some mention of how uncomfortable they were standing up at the podium in front of everyone. Most of us don't like being the center of attention, and the less experience we have with it, the more our hands shake and our voices tremble.

With that in mind, it amused me to read Jeremiah 1:6 the next morning. Jeremiah had just been called by the Lord as a prophet, and his immediate reaction was, "O Sovereign Lord...I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!" Jeremiah didn't want to be the center of attention, either, and he latched onto the most logical reason why he couldn't do it - his age. Jeremiah wasn't used to standing up in front of crowds, making speeches, and having everyone judging him. He likely just wanted to stay a regular guy, doing his job and not drawing the attention of everyone in the nation. 

Instead, God had just told him, "I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations" (v. 5). Not only would Jeremiah be standing in front of everyone, making speeches, but God was calling him to make speeches that would anger the people by pointing out their rebellion and their sin. Is it any wonder Jeremiah felt unqualified for the job?

God didn't let Jeremiah off the hook just because he didn't feel up to the job, though. God said to him, "Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!' Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, 'Look, I have put my words in your mouth!'" (vv. 7-9).

We're all going to feel unqualified for what God asks us to do, at least some of the time. I find a lot of encouragement in what He said to Jeremiah, though.

First, God wasn't going to send Jeremiah out there alone. No matter where God sent him, God would also go with him. The same is true for us, too. Whatever God calls us to do, we can be sure He will never leave us. After all, Jesus said, "And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).

Second, God gave Jeremiah the words to say. Jeremiah didn't have to come up with it all himself; God put the words directly in his mouth. The same will be true for us. If God is calling us to do something, He will give us what we need to do the job. The writer of Hebrews included this prayer, "Now may the God of peace...equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him" (Hebrew 13:20-21).

And third, God would be directing Jeremiah. God had the plan; Jeremiah just had to go where he was told to go and say what he was told to say. God doesn't speak to us out loud like He did in those days, but we can be sure He is directing our paths and leading us where He wants us to go. "Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take" (Proverbs 3:6).

When was the last time you felt unqualified for something God wanted you to do? Did you do it anyway?