“God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called.”
This is a popular saying among Christians that, like most popular sayings, is both true and not true. It’s true in the sense that God has a generous track record of calling unlikely, untrained individuals. Shepherds, prostitutes, and unlearned fishermen have all occupied significant roles in the story of God.
However, God also has a track record of calling very equipped people. Moses was raised in a palace under the leadership influence of Pharaoh. The prophet Elisha was discipled by the great prophet Elijah. The apostle Paul was an expert in the Law, having studied and trained in it since childhood. And Bezalel, Oholiab, and the other builders of the tabernacle were “skilled,” possessing all the “wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work” (Exodus 36:1).
These different stories capture the paradox of calling, which consists of two seemingly conflicting truths:
On the one hand, God always provides what we need for the task. Whether it’s talent, training, or a handful of loaves and fish, God’s provision is sufficient for His purposes. We can trust this to be true, and it should instill us with confidence and peace.
On the other hand, we are not sufficient on our own. Moses was trained to be a leader, but he could not summon down plagues. Paul knew the Law, but he relied on the Holy Spirit to deliver understanding. And although the artisans possessed both the talent and the instructions to build the tabernacle, there was nevertheless a lot they didn’t know. They didn’t know what the cherubim should look like. They didn’t know the precise designs of the curtains. They were given a rough sketch, a partial vision, and then expected to construct the rest in faith.
That is the tension of calling. God provides us with more than enough (v.7), but not so much as to free us from dependence on Him. The secret to managing this tension is guarding the focus of our call, which is Christ alone. When we make our calling about us, we swing between insecurity and pride; between fears about our insufficiency, and a greedy clamoring for fame. But when we remember our calling is about Christ, both our inabilities and abilities are granted an appropriate amount of weight.
We see this balance in the building of the tabernacle: skilled workers, equipped with enough, relying on God for the rest of the vision, and doing it all for the glory of God. They had what they needed, but they never stopped needing God. Our own callings should look the same. We can step into God’s purpose, radiating confidence, while humbly pointing others to the source of it: our all-sufficient Savior.
❤️
CRISTINA- 100% you may do that… what a gift you are thank you!!
RHONDA J- of course I’ll pray for your niece.. and her to be surrounded by His presence and goodness in unexpected places.
LEXI B- thank you… :) That’s so great about the contract! Praying God to fill you with a Spirit of wisdom in the way you continue moving forward and making decisions :)
ALL YA’LL-
Thank you for being such a supportive community. As I’ve said before, this whole seminary thing is one giant act of obedience to a new place He’s called us into. I come from a clinical background and the way I did undergrad/grad school the first time was just so different in what was required of me and how I was successful. So the enemy is using that against me for sure. Praying for courage to keep stepping where He’s leading.
@JLJ I just love what you wrote and have needed and repeated this-
“I pray for patience and steadfastness, strength in my weakness, comfort in distress, and the will to keep fighting. In obedience and contentment, I face this day. Lord, keep my heart soft and focused on You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
@Heidi- prayers said for your husband and you! I admire your steadfast faith, to look to the Lord for provision and guidance. I think finances are so hard (for men especially) to give up that responsibility to the Lord and depend on Him. It goes against everything that society teaches us from such a young age. Praying for your niece as well, if you could also pray for my niece also, she is still caught in satan’s world and only 2.
@Tracy- Thank you for sharing with us this journey you are on, hold fast.
I too love the line “When we make our calling about us, we swing between insecurity and pride. Between fear about our insufficiency and a greedy clamoring for fame.” I see this as I serve the homeless on Friday nights. I find myself telling people I do it, am I bragging? Yet when I’m there I sometimes feel very insecure about how to act and what to say. I need to give it to God and use His power to do His work. I am the hands and feet, but it’s not for me to boast and be proud of or to be a Super Christian, it is to bring people to Jesus! I am slowly beginning to love people! I am a very outgoing person, but as we get older we can become lost in the annoyance and pettiness that prevail around us and begin to have less desire to be around them. Now I am becoming the “hugger” and the engaging person I used to be before tarnished with life, lol. It feels good. Being in a small group, and hearing all the different and varied trials and lessons from other women is so helpful (and here too!) in learning empathy and non-judgment understanding for others. I have always loved learning other people’s stories, but now I yearn to give them Jesus! I love how we are always growing in our walk when we WANT to learn and grow and read the Word and lean into OUR FATHER! Our next small group is going to be focused on the Holy Spirit. It is a study by Ann Graham Watts. I am excited! Also, a friend is going to start a chronic pain group, and how to lean into God to help us cope. This I am familiar with!! I have had chronic pain for 18 years THIS month!! Long journey. My dad has dealt with pain from RA for over 20 years or more. You don’t really understand it until you have it. Also, being a Restorative Health Trainer I have worked with countless people that suffer from lots of conditions and ailments. There is a movement right now of churches that belief in total healing IF you believe it and claim it, well, I don’t see it like that. We will endure suffering on this earth, but we have strength in the triune to preserve and overcome, and it is not an easy feat, but only through Him. I hope we can teach this class with Godly wisdom. Prayers appreciated!! Did I tell ya’ll my husband got baptized a couple of Sundays ago!? It was such a joy! You guys have a blessed week and see ya tomorrow!
Todays reading and devotion really struck a cord with me, especially this: “That is the tension of calling. God provides us with more than enough (v.7), but not so much as to free us from dependence on Him. The secret to managing this tension is guarding the focus of our call, which is Christ alone. When we make our calling about us, we swing between insecurity and pride; between fears about our insufficiency, and a greedy clamoring for fame. But when we remember our calling is about Christ, both our inabilities and abilities are granted an appropriate amount of weight.”
I am in a season of utter dependence on him. I’m three months into my business and things are going well. There are hard days of course. Since I am in the building stage, I’m not making the money I am used to with my old 9-5. But is is enough.
Heidi, I can relate to what you said- hearing the thoughts from the enemy that you are wasting your money, and that you would fail…I am convinced he just uses the same script to discourage us. I will pray for you as you start seminary school (so cool!), your husband for wisdom regarding his business and whether or not he needs to look for a 9-5.
If y’all could pray: I got a big contract for my company through our states regional center, which works with people with developmental disabilties. According to my friend, who’s vendored with them for a while, with that contract I am going to start getting an influx of clients. God has let me know that I will need to think about hiring people soon. Prayer for wisdom as I take on the possiblity of hiring someone. I have no idea what I am doing, lol
This devotional and all your comments brought the Chris Tomlin song to mind. “All of you is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough.”
God has what we need. It’s more than enough. This keeps on popping up in my devotional or any screen time. I need not be consumed by the World. God has everything I need and it is more than enough. I wake up and savor this time with God. Looking to him for strength and guidance. He has what I need. I may not be equipped. But I am called. And I am fully trusting that God is doing his best work for me and in me. Day by day.
Heidi, I have you and Ryan on my list that I see each morning as I sit down to study. May I lift you up in my Church group?
Sharon says it all in her last sentence, “We can step into God’s purpose, radiating confidence, while humbly pointing others to the source of it: our all-sufficient Savior.” How we come across to others really does matter. If you go around with a frown on your face all the time or are negative all the time people don’t want to be around you. We need to smile, and show that Christ is in our life and that we love the idea of it.
Be blessed and be positive and smile for Christ today, sisters.