The Bible is full of examples of people who accomplished things for God—and every one of them had weaknesses. Whether being an orphan or a coward, each person had obstacles to overcome. But God didn’t care about their weaknesses. All He saw was a vessel that could hold His power and do “great exploits” (Daniel 11:32).
Let’s look at a few examples:
David: The Baby of the Family
Suggested Reading: 1 Samuel 16:6-13
David was the youngest child of the family and did a job that most of us wouldn’t dream of doing: watching sheep. Yet, despite his brothers’ strength and knowledge, David was the one whom God chose to be king of Israel. God told Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his physical stature, because I have refused him [the other brother]. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7, brackets added).
What looked impressive to man didn’t look impressive to God. Obviously, something was missing in the elder brothers’ hearts, for Samuel was told to move on each time they appeared. But David, while tending sheep faithfully and writing songs for God, gained favor because he was a man “after God’s own heart” (Acts 33:22).
Then said I: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 1:6-8)
If the God of the universe says that men should not despise our youth, then we shouldn’t despise our youth (2 Timothy 4:12). It’s an honor that God would choose us despite our age. He knows, because of our hearts’ condition, that we are a candidate for greatness!
Esther: A Jewish Orphan Queen
Suggested Reading: The Book of Esther
When the king of Persia wanted a new queen, Esther didn’t have a choice but to surrender to the king’s demands. She was going to the palace for beauty treatments whether she liked it or not. On her way to the virgin chambers, her uncle gave her strict instructions not to reveal her heritage. She wasn’t even supposed to use her real name. Her limitation? Her nationality.
This brave young woman was obedient to wisdom and followed all her uncle Mordecai’s instructions. As a result, she saved her people from a massacre. Had fear bound her, however, things would have turned out quite different. She wouldn’t have gone before the king unsummoned. She would have fled from the challenge of admitting her true lineage. She would have cowered when reporting an evil plot during what seemed a harmless dinner. The end would have been death for her and her countrymen.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
Our ethnic background or social status doesn’t hinder God. We may be the minority in the world’s eyes, but God still wants to use us. He may ask us to do something that everyone else thinks is impossible. But if we take the limits off ourselves and God, miracles will happen. He’ll override every law, every situation, to see us succeed!
Gideon: The Weakest of the Tribe
Suggested Reading: Judges 6:11-16
Gideon’s hang-up was his family position. His family was the weakest of their tribe. To make things worse, he was the most insignificant of his family members. Yet the angel of God found him in hiding, smashing grapes with his feet, and declared him a man of valor.
Gideon eventually overcame his insecurity. He led Israel into victory over the Midianites with the assistance of flaming torches! Had he gone in his own strength, he would have failed. He didn’t go alone, however, because God gave him this promise: “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man” (Judges 6:16).
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:26-29).
It doesn’t matter to God what kind of family we come from. We are all equal in His eyes, “accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:6). His favor is the key. If we have God’s favor in our lives, there’s nothing that can stop us from doing something great for Him!
Moses: Pharoah’s Child Turned Coward
Suggested Reading: Exodus 4:1-17
Moses knew well the courts of the Pharaoh. He had grown up there as Pharaoh’s son, enjoying all the pleasures a king’s child could imagine. But when the time came for him to lead his countrymen out of bondage, he trembled with fear. He couldn’t speak well! The thought of stuttering and stammering when standing before the pharaoh and his advisers was humiliating.
God, of course, didn’t care about Moses’ speech impediment. Eloquence wasn’t a qualification. Though God got angry with Moses for his unbelief, in His mercy, God suggested taking his brother Aaron along for vocal support. Thankfully, Moses summoned some courage and made his way to the Egyptian border.
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Corinthians 12:9).
God’s not interested in hearing about what we can’t do. He simply wants to know what we’re willing to give Him. His ability to use us depends on our availability. Any excuse we may give to state our inadequacy is feeble next to His power. He’ll take what we have and use it for His glory if we’ll let Him.
Rahab: The Woman with a Bad Reputation
Suggested Reading: Joshua 2
Belonging to an idolatrous people, Rahab already had one strike against her. To add to her “inadequacy,” she was a prostitute. She held little hope that the Israelites, much less God Himself, would show her favor. But she did not let that move her.
God led the spies to Rahab’s house because He saw her faith in Him. Instead of turning them away out of fear or intimidation, she welcomed them in and even haggled for her family’s life: “You save me, I’ll save you.” Just as the spies promised, God saved her household when the walls fell. She then rose from a world of harlotry and became the wife of one of the two spies, Salmon. She later became the mother of Boaz, who married Ruth. Ruth gave birth to Obed, father of Jesse, and grandfather of King David. From the line of King David, Jesus, the Savior of the World, was born (Matthew 1:5-6). Her name is even mentioned in the Great Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11:30-31.
“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord” (I Corinthians 1:26-30).
All things are possible when God’s transforming power is at work. Forgiveness is found when trust is put in the Blood of Jesus. God doesn’t rule out one person, no matter how tarnished their past. When the world sees ugly, God sees stunning. When man says failure, God says victor. When the devil cries guilty, God cries innocent. It’s the Blood of Jesus that God sees, a beautiful sign that declares our innocence so we can go and do what He’s called us to do!
Many other “unqualified” characters can be found in the Bible: Joseph, Mary, Sarah, Deborah, and Saul, just to name a few. All of them had limitations according to the world’s standards. But despite their weaknesses, they overcame and accomplished the miraculous. We can, too, if we only believe!
Christa Madrid 