Recent events in my life have made me question my abilities. Before these events, I walked confidently in my assignment and had hope for the future. Once these events occurred, I was shaken so badly I didn’t think that I was walking the right path at all. Someone told me that I was unqualified for something that I was in reality overqualified for. God had told me to walk this path, but someone told me I could not.

I remembered a book I had seen many years ago (Un)qualified by Steven Furtick. The very first page struck a chord with me. Pastor Furtick had been watching YouTube when he heard his name mentioned by another person in ministry whom he had studied while in school. At first, he was honored that such a person knew who he was, but then a statement was made, an inappropriate statement in my opinion. The interviewer asked the question, “What comes to mind when you hear the name Steven Furtick?” After some theatrics and groaning, the minister said the word “Unqualified.”

This whole scenario bothered me even though I know very little about Steven Furtick. I thought about it most of the night and even shared what I had read with my husband. I know that Steven Furtick is a pastor in North Carolina and he’s well-known. But the most important thing I know for a fact is that God called Steven Furtick into ministry and entrusted him with a church. I could go on a tirade about this minister calling Steven Furtick unqualified and how inappropriate this statement was, but I want to look at Pastor Furtick’s response.

Did he quit ministry?

Did he quit his calling?

Did he lash out at this person?

Did he decide that someone else’s opinion was more important than what God called him to do?

As far as I know, the answer to every question is no. Instead, he wrote the book (Un)qualified to teach us that man can never qualify us to do God’s work—only God can qualify us.

So, this made me take a quick analysis of my situation. I decided that someone who knows absolutely nothing about me or my calling doesn’t have any business telling me that I’m not qualified, only God can.

One thing we need to keep in mind is that God is the one who qualifies us, not man. Some of the most noteworthy people in the Bible were considered less than qualified. Let’s look at David. He’s one of the most recognized figures in the Old Testament, but when Israel needed a new king because of Saul’s disobedience, David was not the first choice. Samuel saw David’s older brother and knew this must be the one. He had the right look to be the king. God had to tell Samuel, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7b).

What if Samuel had not heeded God’s word and passed over David because he didn’t look like a King? Honestly, what God wants, God gets so He would have just found someone else to do the job and anoint David, but David’s confidence could have been shaken, maybe even his faith if someone had blatantly rejected him.

Rejection is difficult and doesn’t sit well with our human nature. Thinking that we are unqualified for a job just because someone tells us so can be a roadblock to our relationship with God and our true assignment from God. Remember that God uses unlikely people to do amazing things for His Kingdom. You may see yourself as an unlikely person to teach the gospel or tell others about Jesus, but you are not.

If you had told me 10 years ago that I would be teaching the gospel, I would have told you that you were crazy and that I was not qualified to do so. I quickly learned that I called to this lifestyle, and I am qualified by God to do so even if others may not see my calling. Moses didn’t think he was qualified to lead the people of Israel out of slavery, but he was qualified by God to accomplish this monumental task.

God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called. When God calls us, He equips us, He walks with us through our assignment, and He sends a helper—the Holy Spirit. God doesn’t just look at us; He looks in us. He knows our hearts and knows us better than anyone else will ever know you.

Next time you feel unqualified or someone tells you that you are not qualified do something that God has CALLED you to do, remember you are in good company. Even Jesus was considered unqualified and unworthy by the very people He was sent to save.

Several times in the New Testament, Paul likens our faith walk to a race. In Galatians 5:7-8, he said, “You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you.” Our persuasion should come from the one who called us—God, not from man who did not call us. Don’t let someone who has no horse in your race deter you from the race that God has called you to.

Remember this statement. It’s worth repeating: God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.