What Disqualifies You?
"But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, “I am too young.” You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord."
Jeremiah 1:7-8
Jeremiah disqualified himself out of fear. God called him to go and say words God would give him, but Jeremiah was afraid. He was young, a student or college-aged. He was not yet physically fully mature. He did not think he had the right words to say — and he was right. He was young, immature and acutely aware of his lack.
Yet, that is perhaps right where Jeremiah needed to be.
God promised to give Jeremiah the words. He would be with Jeremiah and would rescue him. From what? From the trouble that would result from following God’s call. Speaking God’s words would result in resistance, but the chapter concludes with God saying: “They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you.” (Verse 19).
Jeremiah was in no way equipped for the work God called him to do and was promised a hard time! My hunch is that Jeremiah was right to feel fear. It was a realistic appraisal of the circumstances he was facing.
Except for one thing: This wasn’t a normal situation. This was God at work. The God who is God over all of Creation. The God who called Jeremiah before he was born. God called Jeremiah; God would give him the words; and God would rescue Jeremiah from those who pushed back against him.
There are things in this life that do seem, from a human point of view, to disqualify us. I remember once writing an extensive list of things that disqualified me from doing what I sensed God calling me to do (I was too young, a woman and not from the right family) and defiantly telling God to deal with these and then I’d do it (and He did …).
Yet, disqualifications are the point. Where we are weak, afraid and acutely aware of our lack, our only option is to trust God. Faith in our strength is not an option. So, we discover the depths of His instead.
