What do you do when you feel unqualified to go after your dreams? If you are currently feeling this way you are in good company. All throughout the Bible we see God used people who felt unqualified.
When God called Moses to go speak to Pharaoh, Moses’ reply was “Who am I?” (Exodus 3:11)
Paul in talking to New Testament believers declared about himself, “For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” (1 Corinthians 15:9)
And then there is Gideon.
In Judges 6, the Israelites are under oppression from the Midianites and we find Gideon hiding in a wine vat trying to thresh wheat. This guy is a scaredy-cat.
Suddenly, an angel appears to him and says, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”
Really? Doesn’t the angel see where he is at?
Gideon didn’t seem like a mighty warrior. He was hiding. When the angel tells him he is going to deliver Israel Gideon isn’t so sure of this idea either. His reply is, “But how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” (Judges 6:15)
Out of all of Israel, Gideon was the most unqualified person to save them yet he was the one God chose. Gideon did achieve victory for Israel with only three hundred men. One of the reasons, I believe, God chose Gideon is because he was not qualified. He had to trust in God and not his own strength.
Trust God
If God has placed something on your heart it’s not because He wants you to fail. It’s because He believes in you. Even though it seems crazy scary to do right now, He knows it is going to bring you a lot of joy. The bigger your dream the more confident you can be that it is from God.
Big dreams require a big reliance on Him.
Step Out in Faith
Part of trusting God is stepping out in faith. Whatever it is you feel unqualified to do whether it is starting a blog, opening a dance studio, or speaking in front of people – take a step of faith. Start writing that first post. You just need to head in that direction. As you start to move God will direct your steps.
Gain Experience
Experience brings confidence. This doesn’t mean all the nervous jitters go away. It also doesn’t mean you are 100 percent sure what the future looks like. However, as you gain experience what you are doing becomes more natural. I once had an interview for a very prestigious internship where I had to give a speech in front of about 60 high profiled community leaders. After that, every other job interview I’ve had has felt like a breeze.
Just remember feeling unqualified is a sign that you are growing. It is an indicator that you don’t want to stay at one level. You are getting out of your comfort zone and trying new things. I applaud you for that. Keep going for your dreams!