You're Never Really Ready

You're never really ready.

Those words resonated in my heart like a loud voice in a cavern. The other night I was organizing my office while listening to some of Hillsong Conference on my iphone. Honestly, what could be a better compliment to clearing clutter than worship (and maybe eating a little tomato bisque)? After some amazing stuff from the Hillsong worship team I heard pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church utter the words...You're never really ready. 

I don't know about you, but there have been countless times in my life when I've skipped out on opportunities because I thought, "I'm so not ready for that yet!" Every single time God has called me to something I haven't been ready for it. I didn't feel qualified then, and to be perfectly honest I still don't! But He didn't choose me in spite of my inadequacies and weaknesses, but because of them. To some it may seem like I am a confident person, but trust me, I am very aware of my limitations. I am naturally insecure and self-concious. I'm the kid that never tried out for anything because I'd already convinced myself that I couldn't make it. I loved track practice and hated track meets. I chicken out at any sort of competition. I don't risk anything when I might lose. If I dare to attempt something, you better know that I'm super prepared. But God says none of that matters. I'll never truly be ready when His call comes. Faith must go when He says go. Trust must stay when He says stay.

"Then He told me, My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness...Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size - abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become."

(2 Corinthians 19:9-10) 

"Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you...But I said, "Hold it, Master God! Look at me. I don't know anything. I'm only a boy!" God told me, "Don't say, 'I'm only a boy.' I'll tell you where to go and you'll stay there. I'll tell you what to say and you'll say it. Don't be afraid of a soul. I'll be right there, looking after you."

(Jeremiah 1:5-8) 

It doesn't matter if I don't have it all together, or if you don't either. Isn't that so freeing? Inexperience and insufficiency doesn't handicap God in the slightest. He shows Himself strong for the weak. He merely requires childlike faith and obedience - He'll take it from there. When I start to feel like I can't do it all, I need to remember that I'm right! I can't. He does what I cannot and receives all the glory for it. Thus, I will gladly surrender the "I can do it all" accolade on this earth for the "He did it all" crown in eternity.

I hope that encourages you this morning friends.