So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me.” One of the young men answered, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the LORD is with him.“ (ESV)

Have you ever been called into something that you KNEW you just could not do? I felt like that when, at the age of 51, I was asking God what he wanted me to do. What direction did he want me to take? I was really looking for confirmation to grow my home-based business. That’s not what he said – I was to apply for a job at ACF Church.  

“But God, I’m too broken. I have a past. People will think I’m a joke. My husband won’t like it. It will take too much time away from him. He will grow bitter of the church.” All of those thoughts and MANY more pummeled me as I heard what God wanted me to do.  

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I had served as a service coach for a year or so and helped out on the First Impressions Team (lovingly known as FIT) for a while at that point. As my predecessor was heading back to the classroom, they were looking for a replacement. Apparently, I had been seen serving and bringing energy to the team. My reputation for having the right culture and DNA for ACF preceded me. That is not meant to brag – because working in full-time ministry was so, so far from my radar. I’d never even heard the term “vocational ministry” until this time. I felt overwhelmed and so far out of my depth as I started the application process, but I wanted to be obedient to what God had called me to.  

I imagine that David might have felt a bit overwhelmed by his calling as well. The king of all Israel, Saul, was looking for someone to play the lyre for him. See, the Spirit of God had left Saul, and he was tormented by a harmful spirit. One of the young men said, Hey, I know just the guy! He’s good at playing, and he’s kind of awesome in a lot of things.

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We see previously in this chapter of 1 Samuel that David had been anointed by Samuel, and the Spirit of LORD had come upon him. God had called David to be more than a shepherd to sheep – he had called him to be a shepherd of God’s people.  

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I don’t really imagine that David, while lovingly tending his sheep in the fields, had ever thought he would one day be king. I don’t think he deliberately did things that made him look like a king. I don’t think he deliberately sought the attention of the prophet, of the king, or of the king’s people. But, because he was “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22), his godly life, his talent, his awesomeness, preceded him. Because he had been living an upright life, God sought him out.  

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We all have a calling. When we feel broken and worthless, God has already set in motion where he wants to use us. You see, the whole point of our calling is not for us. Had it been, I would never have started the application process to work for a church because I certainly didn’t feel worthy or qualified. But through this job, I have been able to shine God’s light into some of the darkest places for people. The point of our calling is to bring glory and honor to God. And he can so perfectly do that through our weaknesses, our doubts, our failures, and even our mistakes.  

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I want you to know that I’m living proof of this. We may look at David and think, “Yeah, but David was different. God called and anointed him.”  But we’re no different. God has used me and grown me so significantly as I stepped in to where he called me that I often ponder the ridiculousness of it myself. NEVER would I have thought God could use me. NEVER would I have thought God would use me. But he has. And he can and wants to use you too.

God of Wonders – that you would desire to use any of us, especially me, is beyond my comprehension. May I be attentive to your Word, your will, and your calling. May I lean in even when it feels beyond anything I could ever imagine. And may I see when you step in and do what only you can do. In the precious name of Jesus ~ AMEN!