What if I don't feel qualified to be a missionary?​

Feb 15, 2023

What if I don't feel qualified to be a missionary?

There are many hesitations that quickly follow a tug toward a missional life. 

“I’ve got the wrong personality for that.” 
“I don’t have the right education.” 
“I’ve spent so much time learning these other skills. I can’t possibly use them for missions!” 


All of these boil down to a core belief: “I’m not qualified.”

Western culture (and many others throughout the world) hold a high value for proper presentation. A shiny exterior. If you can’t do something well on your first try, why put yourself out there at all? Only the best are lauded. The fear of failure and embarrassment can be such a hindrance to our confidence that we end up avoiding that tug we felt altogether. Best to leave all that to seminary graduates. 

To us, mistakes often mean failure. Yet in the eyes of our God, that is not the case. Read these words from Jesus and Paul, respectively:

 

“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” - Matthew 9:13

 

 

“I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.” 1 Corinthians 2:3-5

 

 


Like Moses arguing with God at the burning bush (
Exodus 4:10-12), we can come up with many reasons why we’re unqualified to serve as God’s hands and feet to a broken world. But God’s Word is replete with examples of inadequate, untrained, sinful people used to display astounding power and love to the world around them.

 

Take the apostle Peter as an example. The gospels are full of stories of his misconceptions, recklessness, and cowardice. He was an unschooled fisherman playing at Rabbi’s student. At one point, Jesus even rebuked him by saying “get behind me, Satan!” (Matt.16:23). Yet from that very same chapter, we hear Jesus speak great words of authority and influence about Peter:

 

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” - Matthew 16:18

 


This wasn’t some upper-class model student. This was a common fisherman with a mouth big enough to make Job sound reserved. Yet Jesus Christ chose him as a pillar in the Kingdom he established on earth. He calls us to the same depth of relationship and service.

Maybe you’re not worried that you’re unqualified. You know you’re inadequate, and you know God wants to use you anyway. But that’s a difficult calling. You’ve seen others lay down their priorities and giftings at the feet of Jesus to serve in any way they can. It looks painful and exhausting. That type of surrender invites growth that you know will be the most strenuous endeavor of your entire life. 

You’re right. Surrendering our lives to God requires sacrifice. It isn’t always easy, and it even comes with suffering. Paul, the prime example of a missionary to many, spent years in prison, shipwrecked multiple times (I’m sure few in history can claim that accolade), and fled several towns for fear of his own life. Even still, he rejoiced in the “opportunity” to suffer for the sake of the gospel:

 

“Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.” - Romans 5:3-5

 


Whether we’re afraid we’re unqualified or we’re afraid He’ll use us in spite of that, there’s more to serving God than being “qualified”. God delights in using the weak and the fearful. It’s amazing to see God work through unlikely characters.

So how do we get started? Remember, it’s ok to hesitate and stumble. God’s desire isn’t perfect servants, but loving children. Isn’t it better for a child to attempt to make a painting for their father and fail spectacularly than never show him any form of affection? Search your heart and find your passions. What has God given you love for or skill in? Use that to His glory. Love people through those avenues, whether it’s tech support, baking, or card games. It won’t always be clean cut and you won’t always be the perfect model of Christ, but it will always be obedience to our God.

May we all be Peters and Pauls. Last picked, least suspected, but marvelously valuable to the Kingdom of God. Not for their perfection or worthiness, but for their obedience. 

 

Written by: Darrel

 

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