Search

Qualifying the Call: Struggling When You Feel Unworthy to Lead.

Paul Parris
Aug 11
4 min read

Updated: Aug 12

By Paul Parris

A scenic sunset symbolizing endless possibilities and achievements.

Do you ever feel like you aren’t called to lead or that there must be a mistake when you are asked to step into that role? You may think, “That’s a job for someone else!” Perhaps your (so-called) flawed experiences in life would hinder your ability to lead other people. Maybe you feel unequipped or unworthy of the call? To put it bluntly, those uncertainties and doubts are all true. You are unworthy and unequipped to lead but so is everyone else on this earth.

Struggling to Lead

Every one of us (no matter your background, ethnicity, race, gender, life experiences, or heritage) is a flawed human. That is what it means to be fully human, to be fallible. Your parents? Flawed. Your friends? Inadequate. Your boss? Unworthy. Your pastor? Imperfect. Your national leaders? Blemished. On our own, we are unworthy of the call to lead those around us, and it has been that way since sin entered the world in Genesis 3. Take a look at some of these flawed leaders in the Bible:

Jacob - Deceived his brother and stole his birthright (Genesis 25:31)
Moses - Killed an Egyptian (Exodus 2:12) and questioned God through his own self-doubt (Exodus 4)
Gideon - Doubted God had the right person and requested God to perform miracles to help him believe (Judges 6:36-40)
David - Committed adultery and had Bathsheba’s husband killed by putting him in harm’s way (2 Samuel 11)
Peter - After defending Jesus with violence, he later denies ever even knowing him (Mark 14:66-72)
Paul - Religious zealot who murdered Christians (Acts 7:57 - 8:3)

By their own deeds, actions, thoughts, and merits, these individuals were the very definition of unworthy to lead.

In today’s society, they would have been shunned and ridiculed, not given a chance to interact with others, much less lead. Who gave them the right to lead? Simple. God did - and he will do the same for you? God does not call the qualified; he qualifies the call.

A dart hits the bullseye, symbolizing the rare triumphs and challenges faced by leaders striving for precision.

DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT, LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE

Our Weakness - His Strength

It is only through God’s holiness and worthiness that we are strengthened to lead. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God turns our weaknesses into strengths. He overlooks our shortcomings and empowers us to overcome them. He breathes purpose into our lives and gives us the Holy Spirit to work through us and in us for His glory.

As you embark on your journey, remember that setbacks are not failures. Instead, view them as temporary and as opportunities to grow. Lean into your support network, remain patient with yourself, and stay focused on your goals. The key to leadership is to submit yourself humbly before the Lord and let yourself be guided by His steady hand.

Strong leadership isn’t about how charismatic or experienced you are. It isn’t about credentials (although every healthy leader will discover ways to improve their skill set). If it were, we would all fall short. Strong leadership is about following the prompting of the Holy Spirit and ushering those around you into either greater communion with Him or into greater community around you. Let’s revisit the misfit leaders mentioned earlier to discover how God used them through their unworthiness:

Jacob - Became the Father of the Nation of Israel
Moses - Led God’s people out of captivity into the promised land
Gideon - Became a mighty warrior for God and led his people in winning battle against impossible odds
David - Was King and was known as a man after God’s own heart
Peter - Became a Pillar and Founder of the early Church
Paul - Wrote half of the New Testament and was an apostle of Jesus

As you can see, you don’t have to be worthy to lead. You just need to be submissive to the One you’re following.

Jesus is the great equalizer. In Him, we are made whole. In Him, we are made worthy. The issues you have, the flaws you feel keep you from your leadership potential, submit them wholly to Jesus. He will use those as building blocks for your foundation in leading others. He can use those to give you insight into similar struggles that other people experience, allowing you to speak to those you lead with compassion and understanding, with empathy and humility. Whether it is leading in business, your family, at church, with your friends, or in the community, He is right by your side if you allow Him to be.

You Got This

You may not have all the answers. You may not know what direction to lead people or what words to say to them. That’s okay. God does. Are we unworthy to lead? Absolutely. Can we succeed in leadership? To a small degree, sure. But with the power, might, and gentleness of our God, He can make the seemingly impossible possible and allow you to fully realize the call that He has on your life. Don’t shy away from opportunities to lead based on your past or current struggles and experience, but embrace Him and His wisdom and be faithful to His mighty hand. Philippians 4:13 reminds us that “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” Submit to the Worthy One and enjoy the journey!

Authored by Paul Parris