The Lord turned to him (Gideon) and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” “Pardon me, my lord,: Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.” Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.”  
Judges 6:14-17

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Personally, I preferred roaming the still, empty book stacks of university libraries. At that time, my now thinning hair was long and scraggly. I was 18 when I asked myself, “What do you want to be?” Leader was not the answer. Yet, over my lifetime, I have had many leadership positions. I led out of a sense of duty, or obedience, or necessity, but never to fulfill my heart’s desire. Sometimes there were significant moments, like when I was too weak and fell short of the task at hand. These I got done only by the grace of God.

You may have natural leadership talent. Perhaps you enjoy leading, so my reluctance doesn’t quite resonate. But what if you are called by God to do what you feel is impossible because of who you think you are? Maybe you simply lack the necessary skills. What if God commissioned you to do something clearly beyond your abilities—the big gulp. What does God have to say about that?

In the book of Judges, Gideon’s leadership potential seems questionable. He is reluctant to act and thinks of himself as the weakest person in the weakest clan in Manasseh. And yet God calls him a warrior and declares him the person to save Israel from the Midianites. He accepts Gideon as he is—a timid farm worker—and super-charges his military prowess. He wins the war. His spiritual rule gives Israel 40 years of peace. You could say that he grew into the job.

The theme of weakness to strength is found throughout the Bible: Moses (Exodus 3-4), Joshua (Joshua 1:6-9), David (1 Samuel 16), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:6), Esther (Esther 4:10-16), Peter (Matthew 26:69-75), Paul (1 Corinthians 2:3), and Timothy (2 Timothy 1:7). They all had serious flaws and misgivings that needed changing. 

How are you and I different? Imagine, in your mind’s eye, the Lord calling you to get baptized, to seek out a small group, or to do a good deed for a classmate. How would you feel if you were commissioned to serve as a mentor to young couples? Perhaps the Spirit anoints you to become a pastor. Do you have a dream or vision of singing on a worship team or tending infants in a nursery? Be ready and apply to yourself what Paul says, “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Next Steps

Keep yourself available to God’s leading. Serve in a church ministry or a community service activity.