When You Feel That You’re Not Qualified
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Photo by samantha gades via unsplash
When I first felt God calling me to become a writer, I was elated, but I also felt unqualified.
Though I had done a fair amount of writing as a graduate student and as a counselor, it was limited to the “boring” kind of writing—dry research papers and no-nonsense treatment plans and mental health assessments.
I had no training in creative nonfiction, and I had no idea how to write the way my favorite Christian authors wrote. I wondered if I needed to return to school to get an English degree, partly because I worried people wouldn’t take me seriously as a writer if I didn’t have one.
However, after learning more about the path other authors have taken to becoming writers, I realized that having a degree was not a necessity. So, instead of going back to college, I pushed forward with learning the craft of writing in other ways: joining membership sites where I could learn from writers like Lysa TerKeurst and Jerry Jenkins, hiring a writing coach, and reading lots of books and articles. And of course, practice, practice, practice.
FEELING UNQUALIFIED
I share this today because maybe you feel God calling you to something, but as I did, you feel unqualified. You might wonder whether you need a degree or whether people will listen to what you have to say if you don’t have certain credentials. Or maybe you feel unqualified due to your age, economic status, or marital status.
If so, I encourage you to ask yourself, “Is a degree (or whatever credential or qualification you’re worried about) really required for this thing God is putting on my heart?”
Sure, some vocations do require specialized training and specific experiences. If you feel called to become a dentist or veterinarian, you are indeed going to need a degree.
So gather your courage and get that degree. But if the answer is no, then don’t let a lack of a degree stop you from doing what God has called you to do.
As we commit to carrying out our God-given work with excellence, skill development does matter, and if you’re embarking on a new project or vocational path, chances are there will be new things to learn. But there are so many ways to learn—such as mentors, online training, and certificate programs—that don’t require a four-year degree.
GOD’S CALLING IS YOUR QUALIFICATION
The bottom line is, your worth and eligibility for God’s work are not dependent on degrees or demographics. And if the only thing holding you back from moving toward that thing God is stirring in your heart is feeling “less than” because you lack a college education or you belong to a specific age bracket, I hope you dismiss those feelings, take a deep breath, and push forward.
It’s been said that God’s calling is your qualification. If He is asking you to do something, He will equip you for the task. That might mean further education, and it might not. Whatever the case, He will be with you step by step, empowering you to do the good work He has created you to do!
As always, you are in my thoughts and prayers, and I’d love to hear from you! You can contact me here or through the comment section below.
In purpose and faith,
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