You Don’t Need to Be Qualified. You Just Need to Show Up
Here’s the truth nobody tells you: God isn’t waiting for your résumé. He’s waiting for your yes.
You don’t need a seminary degree, a spotless past, or a five-year plan. You don’t need to have it all figured out. In fact, most of the people God used in scripture were a complete mess when He called them.
So, if you feel like you’re not good enough, holy enough, smart enough, or “spiritual” enough—congratulations. You’re exactly the kind of person God loves to use.
God Doesn’t Call the Qualified
Let’s go down the list real quick:
- Moses had a stutter.
- David was a shepherd nobody took seriously.
- Rahab was a prostitute.
- Peter had anger issues and foot-in-mouth disease.
- Paul literally murdered Christians.
None of them were qualified. All of them were called.
What made the difference? They showed up. They obeyed, often imperfectly, sometimes reluctantly, but they kept showing up. And God did the rest.
The Lie of “Not Enough”
We talk ourselves out of obedience all the time because we think we’re not ready. But what we really mean is, we’re afraid.
Afraid we’ll mess up. Afraid we’ll look stupid. Afraid we’ll be exposed as frauds.
Here’s the secret: you’re going to mess up. You’re going to look stupid sometimes. And yes, you are deeply unqualified on your own. That’s kind of the point. Because if you could do it without God, it wouldn’t require any faith.
Stop waiting for the fear to leave. Just move forward anyway.
Obedience Over Expertise
God isn’t impressed by your skills. He’s moved by your obedience.
He doesn’t need your polish, He needs your presence. He’s not asking you to have the perfect words. He’s asking you to be available.
Some of the most powerful moments in ministry come from people who simply said, “I’ll go.” Not because they were ready, but because they were willing.
Willing to look foolish.
Willing to be stretched.
Willing to trust that God would meet them in the gap.
That’s where transformation happens.
Your Weakness Isn’t a Liability
We spend so much time trying to fix ourselves before stepping into our calling. But what if your weakness is the very thing God wants to use?
Paul said it best in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
Your brokenness qualifies you. It makes room for God’s power to shine through. The people you’re called to reach don’t need perfection. They need your story. They need your scars. They need to know they’re not alone.
Just Show Up
You’re not called to be flawless. You’re called to be faithful.
Whatever God’s nudging you toward, starting that ministry, leading that group, writing that book, praying for that stranger, do it. Not because you have all the answers, but because God does.
You don’t need to wait until you feel ready. You won’t. Just start.
Just show up to the room.
Show up to the conversation.
Show up to the altar.
Show up in prayer.
Show up even when you’re shaking.
Because when you show up, God shows off.
You are not too broken. You are not too late. You are not too small.
You’re just the right kind of unqualified that God loves to use.
So take the step. Say yes. And let God take it from there.
