Have you ever felt unqualified for the task set out before you?
While this Psalm is specifically about David’s praise to the Lord after deliverance from his enemies, something else stood out to me. According to this Psalm, David seems to be completely unqualified to take down his enemies. Verse 17 says, “He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.” And yet, God equipped him with the strength he needed (vs. 32 + 39).
Back in college I was a part of this organization that visited women in jail who had been sex trafficked. I was encouraged to listen to their stories while showing them Christ’s love because many of them had never even been loved by their own family members. I felt so unqualified. I felt as though I couldn’t relate to them, and I felt like I had nothing to offer. A sweet friend reminded me of this verse in 2 Corinthians in the midst of my self-doubt: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” -2 Corinthians 4:7. We are all like jars of clay, breakable and temporary. But there’s this treasure inside of us that is the Lord who gives us this all-surpassing power. He gives us strength when we have none. He gives us the words to say when we need them. The Lord was there with me every. single. time. Some of the most amazing experiences came from that short season of my life, all because I trusted the Lord, not because of my own strength. I literally had nothing to offer these women except for Christ.
I’m sure David felt the exact same way: unqualified for the task set before him. I’m sure he felt some doubt creep in, and I’m sure it was hard for him to see how the Lord could deliver him from this seemingly impossible circumstance. However, David trusted the Lord and the Lord gave him the strength he needed to overcome his enemies. “For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me. You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and those who hated me I destroyed.”
This was a timely reminder for me as I’m caught in the midst of feeling like I need to do something in the midst of racial injustice and COVID19. I feel unqualified, yet obligated to speak up. I think it’s important to understand that speaking up is good, but we can’t take on the world by ourselves. We can’t make changes to our country alone. We are just fragile jars of clay. However, we have a God who can give us the words to say, strength when we need it, and is the only one who can ultimately change our hearts. Love you guys and I look forward to the day we get to worship together in person again <3
-Bethany