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Do struggle with not feeling qualified? As Christians, it's so easy to throw this quote around as a chant for overcoming our feelings of inadequacies. But maybe what we're striving to do in our own strength, believing "it" is our calling, is not at all what is meant by this often quoted verse 2 Corinthians 3:5:
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"It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God."
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Context is key! Look at this in a broader context:
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"4 We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. 5 It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. 6 He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life."
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The qualification pertains to being ministers -- a servant (according to the Greek) -- of the new covenant. The qualification is about sharing the message of God, not necessarily about being qualified to pursue a "calling" or career or even endure a trial. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So just maybe what we feel like we're doing for a living or pursuing in a ministry or engaging in a relationship or experiencing in an obstacle is indeed totally overwhelming and leaves us feeling unqualified. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Maybe that means we need to seek God for wisdom and invite Him to make is HIS power known in our weakness. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Maybe we need to adjust expectations and garner support from others, even a life coach. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Maybe we need to press through or move on. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Because being unqualified is a part of life as God calls us to shift our focus onto Him and His greater purposes.
Friends we know so many of you have walked through serious challenges and we want you to know your story matters. It matters so much that it could reach a total stranger with hope for the future.
For the month of September we invite you to share your #overcomingstory . We know that overcoming is a process not a destination, so if you are working it out, that's okay!
We still want to hear it. Wherever you are in your journey of overcoming is important.
You could be a light at the end of someone else's tunnel, because we all need to know someone out there understands what we are going through.
You can bring comfort and strength to another person who is "working it out" and wondering if she is the only one!
Share your experience and use #overcomingstory so we can find each other! We will be sharing on our feed all month long
#getthetissues #bravetogether
I have learned so much about stillness this week and feel like I just scratched the surface. The real question is whether I can embrace stillness once I'm back in my normal routine. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So help a girl out . . . how do you find stillness with God in the midst of chaos? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
How do you integrate solitude into your life when family and work and chores and friends call your name . . . and you actually enjoy responding?