Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

Remember when your entire social worth in middle school was determined by what stage in the draft process you were picked for in dodgeball? I was perpetually in the final draft round, alongside one unfortunate girl who probably still has PE-related trauma. Eventually, the teacher would have to intervene: “Someone has to take them.” Pure confidence builder right there.

Years later, I ended up on my church softball team—not because of any athletic prowess, but because excluding me would’ve been a theological problem. “Just as I am, without one hit…” became my unspoken anthem. They only put me in right field when we were up by ten runs—essentially, when my inevitable errors couldn’t do catastrophic damage. The sad part? I was genuinely grateful for this arrangement.

Most of us still carry these patterns into our faith lives. We’ve just gotten better at crafting sophisticated avoidance strategies. We don’t volunteer for ministries that require gifts we haven’t mastered. We decline opportunities to share our testimony. We stay silent during Bible studies where we might reveal our theological confusion. We build our entire Christian identity around never being caught in situations where we might appear spiritually immature.

But Scripture flips this entire mindset on its head. In 1 Corinthians 1:27, Paul writes, “Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” In God's economy, our inadequacies aren’t liabilities—they’re invitations for His power to be displayed.

Even Jesus Himself embodied this paradox. Despite being fully divine, He wasn’t remotely impressive by the standards of His day. He was born in a humble stable, raised in obscurity, had no formal religious training, and His inner circle consisted primarily of working-class fishermen. His ministry culminated in what appeared to be the ultimate humiliation—crucifixion alongside criminals. Yet this apparent failure became the central redemptive moment in salvation history.

This isn’t just theological teaching; it’s transforming truth for our daily discipleship. That moment when you feel completely unqualified to lead a small group, that awkward silence when you’re trying to explain your faith to a skeptical friend, that ministry opportunity you’re afraid to pursue because you don’t feel spiritually mature enough—those moments of vulnerability might actually be where God shows up most powerfully.

I’ll never forget my singular athletic triumph—catching a fly ball through what can only be described as divine intervention. I just stuck my glove out while internally panicking, and somehow the ball found it. Sometimes our most remarkable kingdom contributions happen when we’re least calculated, most dependent on God, and completely terrified.

So maybe try leaning into something that makes you feel spiritually inadequate today. Pray with someone, even though you don’t have all the answers. Share your faith journey—including the messy parts. Volunteer for that ministry that intimidates you.

Because in our polished, program-driven Christian culture, there’s something profoundly biblical about showing up imperfectly. Our weakness creates space for God’s strength to be perfected—and that might be the most powerful testimony we ever offer to a world hungry for authentic faith.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.

• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises? 
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you? 
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.