Lesson 2 - Inadequate prerequisite
MARCH 2023
The first answer was, ‘No.’
In 1998 when we were asked to take on the leadership of Watford Community Church nothing in us felt up to the task; we were given just three days to give our real answer. After time to pray and listen to God’s voice, we heard a whisper to follow, to trust, to say ‘Yes’ to this invitation.
The background music to much of the 24 years since that summer evening has been a gentle melody of our own inability. Not a haunting, accusing track undermining us, but a constant reminder that God is our strength. This is His church, His ministry, and it is our God-confidence (not self-confidence) that qualifies us to lead.
In the early days one of our young worship leaders, David Palmer wrote his first song, inspired by Psalm 118: ‘You are my strength/You are my song/You have become my salvation…’ A recurring theme.
At times, I confess, we have relied too much on our own skills and leadership abilities, moving forward without due humility. Reliance drifting eerily off course, followed by the painful but necessary ‘humblings’ of God. As Jesus explains,
‘those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’ (Matt 23:12)
I started this month standing on the edge of a tiny farm aside a valley in Somerset, the birthplace of George Williams, the youngest of seven sons. He was useless as a farmer, so ended up in the city of London as an apprentice draper. Just another young lad amidst the crowds. But God got hold of this young man, filled him with His Spirit, and through him founded the YMCA – the oldest and largest youth organisation on the planet, with 64 million beneficiaries every year in 121 countries. What a story!
Sounds like Joseph, David, Esther, Mary. Small people in God’s big hands can be used to write entire chapters in His epic story.
We are never enough. He always is. As I heard someone say,
“When God put a calling on your life, He already factored in your stupidity.”
This is our story – we said ‘Yes’ to the call to lead, knowing that we could achieve nothing without the One who called us.
The Lesson? Not many job interviews would be considered a success if the candidate said ‘I can’t do this job.’ Not so here. In Christian leadership, in God’s kingdom, He is counting on our insufficiency.
The prayer? May the God who really knows us and loves us anyway do great things through us, weaknesses and all, for His glory alone. And may the voice of the accuser that condemns you be drowned out by the whisper of a Father says, ‘You’re not enough, but I AM.