Thank God He Doesn’t Need Qualified People

If God only used qualified people, I’m not sure any of us would have come to Tanzania.

That may sound like an odd way to begin, but I think it’s true.

One of the biggest obstacles to serving the Lord isn’t a lack of ability. It’s the belief that we need to be enough before God can use us. We tell ourselves, “I’m not a teacher.” “I don’t know enough.” “I’m not comfortable speaking in front of people.” “Someone else would do a better job.”

Yet Scripture tells a different story. Moses said he couldn’t speak. Gideon believed he was the weakest. Jeremiah thought he was too young. Peter knew his own failures. Paul boasted only in his weaknesses. None of them felt qualified, yet God used every one of them because the power was never theirs, it was His.

Today reminded me of that truth over and over again.

Our morning began with a walking safari in Arusha National Park. As we walked among giraffes, zebras, Cape buffalo, warthogs, baboons, blue monkeys, waterbuck, storks, and ibis, I couldn’t help but think of Psalm 104: “How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.”

None of those animals are trying to be something they aren’t. They simply live as their Creator designed them. It made me wonder how often we complicate serving God because we spend so much time wishing we were someone else.

Later we visited the Faraja Center, where we met with 23 mothers and 15 children. Their joyful singing filled the room before we even began speaking. They weren’t looking for polished presentations or impressive credentials. They simply welcomed fellow Christians who had come to share the love of Christ.

One of my favorite moments happened there.

For the first time on this trip, Sarah spoke without using her phone as a script. I watched her connect naturally with the women, speaking from her heart. When we were finished, she quietly told me she didn’t think she had done a very good job.

I smiled because what she believed about herself was completely different from what everyone else had just experienced.

How often are we like that?

How many opportunities do we miss because we’ve already convinced ourselves that we aren’t enough?

God wasn’t looking for perfection this morning. He was looking for a willing servant, and He blessed that willingness.

The afternoon continued to reinforce the same lesson. We visited Elisha and Lena’s home and had the privilege of meeting their beautiful newborn daughter, Melody, who had been born around 10:00 that morning. Lena was understandably exhausted, so we let her rest while spending time with Elisha, their children Ryan and Malaika, and Elisha’s sister, Maggie.

It was also amazing to see the progress on Elisha’s house. It didn’t appear overnight. It has grown little by little as God has faithfully provided over time. That’s often how God works in our lives too. He doesn’t require finished people before He uses them. He continues His work while we are still growing.

On the drive home we laughed with Eubank as we worked on a few dance moves together. None of us were experts, but that wasn’t the point. Ministry isn’t only preaching sermons or teaching Bible lessons. Sometimes it’s simply sharing life, laughing together, building friendships, and reflecting the joy Christ has given us.

Back at Bruce and Paula’s house, I noticed Sarah organizing the day’s photos and videos. Without even realizing it, she was quietly humming Mungu ni Pendo, “God is Love.”

I couldn’t help but smile.

The woman who thought she hadn’t done very well was humming a song about God’s love because she had just spent the day living it.

As I reflected on everything we experienced today, one thought kept coming back to me.

I wonder how many people never experience the joy of serving because they’ve convinced themselves they aren’t qualified.

Maybe that’s exactly why God so often chooses people who don’t feel qualified.

When we believe we are enough, we’re tempted to trust ourselves. When we know we aren’t enough, we learn to depend on Christ.

Thank God He doesn’t need qualified people.

He calls ordinary sinners who have been forgiven through Jesus. He equips them with His Word. He surrounds them with fellow believers. Then He accomplishes things that could never be explained by human ability alone.

If you’ve ever thought, “I could never go on a Mission Helper trip,” I would encourage you to pray about one question.

Is that really the Lord telling you no?

Or is it simply your own fear speaking louder than His promises?

I’m grateful that today reminded me once again that God isn’t looking for impressive people. He’s looking for hearts that are willing to trust Him.

And that’s a qualification every Christian has through Christ.

In Christ,
Jeff Radichel
Tanzania Mission Helper Trip