Have you ever been considered for a position that some, including yourself, believed you were not qualified for? If so, you are in good company. Jesus' twelve disciples were not educated men, yet they were chosen. After being filled with and empowered by the Holy Spirit Jesus' disciples spoke boldly for Christ and performed miracles, signs and wonders.
God doesn't always call the qualified, but He always qualifies the called. He will open doors for you and use you in ways that will have others shaking their heads in disbelief.
After I lost my job of 22 years due to a merger, I found another job that paid a fraction of what I earned previously. Adding to my woes, I was a recently divorced, new home owner with a teenage son. All of this made me concerned about how I would make ends meet. I didn't know it at the time, but God was going to use that lower paying job to prepare me for ministry and to teach me to depend solely on Him.
I worked in phone sales answering the phones, greeting customers, connecting calls to the phone salesmen and preparing invoices. I was well liked in that department, but what I didn't know is that I was being observed by the upper echelon of the company who were considering me for a job that I was absolutely not qualified for.
I was asked to be the assistant to the President's assistant. It was a great position that had a lot of responsibility. Although I was pleased to be considered for this new job, I immediately informed them that I didn't know how to use the computer and that my typing skills were not something to be desired. I was told that they were aware of my short comings, but they were confident that I could learn those skills. What they wanted that could not be taught was something they valued highly and felt I possessed -- character. It was important to both the President and his assistant that the person in that position be trustworthy. They invested in me, and with God's help I learned quickly.
God taught me so many lessons while there that would prepare me for future ministry. My boss was a hard working detailed oriented person, who took pride in doing her best work. She was trustworthy and never took advantage of her position even though she could have easily done so. I'll never forget what she said to me on one occasion after reviewing a letter I had composed. Her question was, “Shirley, do you know who you are representing when you send out work like this?” In her opinion, the letter I intended to mail would not properly represent the company for which we worked.
Whenever I'm preparing for a ministry event, I always ask myself and my coworkers in the ministry that same question, “Do you know who you represent?” God wants our best because He has invested in us and given us His very best. When others counted us out, God counted us in. It is God who promotes not man. Don't concern yourselves with the opinions of those who feel you are not qualified, nor listen to the inner voices of doubt. If God calls you, He will qualify you!
Blessings!
Elder Shirley Freeman