If you’ve spent any amount of time in church, you’ve probably heard the words, “God has a plan for your life.” And I think the big question for all of us is: Do we believe this? It sounds good and many of us may want to believe it, but do we?
Then, if we don’t really believe it, I guess the follow up question would be: Why not? If we’re honest with ourselves, many of us struggle with shame and insecurities. We don’t think we’re good enough to be used by God and we lack the confidence to step out in faith.
If I’m honest, this is the real reason I didn’t think I’d ever be a senior pastor. I struggled with the fact that I hadn’t gone to Bible college…that I hadn’t gone to any college for that matter. I didn’t think I had what it took to be a senior or lead pastor. I didn’t think it was in my DNA, so to speak.
But I’ve learned that “God doesn’t call the qualified—He qualifies the called.” In other words, He gave me direction and provision and even the skills required each time I took a step forward in obedience to do the things He placed in my heart. He knows me better than I know myself and He knew that His plan was for me to be a senior pastor.
Now, not all of us are called to be pastors vocationally, but God does have a plan for our lives. He created each of us uniquely for specific purposes. In Psalm 139:13-14, David says, “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” (NLT)
God created each of us in such a wonderful and complex way. He knows us better than we know ourselves and we will never be all that God desires us to be until we embrace that truth.
None of us are perfect: all of us have flaws and weaknesses. God knows that and He isn’t bothered by any of them. As a matter of fact, He tells us that His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses. And when we step forward in obedience, even when we feel unqualified or unskilled or weak, He takes what we’re able to give and multiplies it for His Glory as He shines through us in ways we never imagined.
Lord, help us to embrace the calling You have on our lives. Help us to realize that we were fearfully and wonderfully made: that You made us the way we are so that we can fulfill Your plan for our lives and for the world around us.
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