Does God Equip the Called?

​I think we’ve all heard this phrase before:

God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.

​But is this really true? Do I have to sit around and wait for God to call me to something magnificent before I can begin to practice anything? Before He can grow me?
 
Let’s look at an example:

One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.
A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
-Matthew 4: 18-22

Jesus definitely went on to teach and equip these men further—there is no doubt about that! But weren’t they already a little equipped before they began? Wasn’t that part of God’s plan? Hadn’t they learned patience, perseverance, and how to ride the roller coaster of fishing? Most certainly!  They were already equipped and then they were called—and then equipped further.
 
For so long, I used that phrase as a cop out. A way to say, “I’ll wait for God to equip me before I am obedient to His word.” Once God calls me to be a skilled evangelist, I’ll start practicing.
 
Or, I confused myself by thinking, “I’m already skilled at writing, what is God going to make me do?”  If I am already equipped in this one area, and He doesn’t call equipped—is He going to call me to music? That didn’t sound fun or effective for His Kingdom…
 
While I just admitted how I have used that phrase, I think this quote can give courage when we are scared to actually walk out God’s call for our life.  It reminds us that God’s got our back. That he will give us wisdom when we need it. And He will; after all, all wisdom is God’s wisdom.
 
If you’re repeating the quote in this way, the give me courage way, then keep repeating it to yourself! God does got your back. He will support you. And it is safe to walk out God’s call for your life.
 
But, if you identified with either of the ways that I have used that quote to keep myself from stepping out in faith—remind yourself what you know to be true about God. That’s what helped me.
 
-You don’t have to be perfect at something in order for God to use you. God’s perfection can work in you.
 
-God does further equip the already equipped. Before and after the call.
 
-God wants you to trust Him. He has the best plan for your life. ​

If you're interested in learning more about your talents and how God wants to use them to grow His kingdom, I highly recommend stopping by the Missional Women Store. Grab a copy of a workbook created by our host, Laura Krokos, called "Discovering God's Call For Your Life."  

The topics I had to work through in that book is why I'll be trusting God with going into full-time ministry. I couldn't recommend it enough. 

About Jacque

Jacque is the Missional Women Intern and a college student in Denver, CO who balances her time between trying to go to class and learning about His saving grace and perfect love as much as she can.  She is a twenty something, DIY attempting, Jesus loving, Denver living, small town rooted, Colorado sports fan.  She loves black coffee, long conversations and watching people do what God created them for. You can find her Christian Twenty Somethings blog at Desperately Dependent. ​​

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