To The Girl That Feels Unqualified

“You’re not qualified.” 

That was the first thought that flooded my mind when I was asked to write this blog post. I had to pause, take a deep breath, and reflect. Wow, Lord—what an incredible opportunity to encourage other girls through the very lessons You’re teaching me in this season. May Your truth and glory shine through the way You’re refining me. 

But even so, the doubts still creep in. The lies whispered to my heart: You don’t have what it takes. 

Am I qualified to make it through nursing school? 

Can I handle this potential leadership role? 

Am I equipped to be a mentor to others? 

Am I even good at my job? 

Am I the kind of friend someone can count on? 

What if I’m not enough to be the kind of girlfriend someone deserves? 

The truth is, I’m not qualified on my own. None of us are. But we serve a loving God who does qualify us—who equips us with exactly what we need, right when we need it. When we humble ourselves and admit we can’t do it all on our own, He steps in with grace, strength, and purpose. 

I can look back on my life and notice a pattern: When new opportunities arise, especially ones that are exciting and promising, I find myself overwhelmed by fear and worry. These moments push me beyond the boundaries of my comfort zone, and instead of courageously leaning into growth, my mind spirals with thoughts of inadequacy. I begin to question whether I’m truly 

qualified, and I convince myself that it’s easier to retreat to what feels safe and familiar. 

There’s comfort in sticking to what I know I can handle—things that require minimal risk, minimal fear, and minimal chance of failure. But that’s not where God is calling me to stay! He doesn’t want me where I’m comfortable, but where I must be dependent on Him. That’s where He will teach me and refine me most. 

I often wish I had certain qualities or gifts that would make me feel “more qualified.” I long to succeed, to do things with excellence for His glory, and I would be lying if part of me didn’t want to prove my capability to others. This mentality leaves me desiring what I lack, wishing I could excel at everything. But this is unrealistic, and it only has me putting unnecessary pressure on myself to perform on my strength. 

Yet, God has uniquely equipped me and each of us with specific gifts essential for building His kingdom and fulfilling his purposes. So of course, I won’t have every gift, and I don’t need to! I want to honor Him with the strengths He’s placed within me and trust Him deeply in the spaces where I feel least equipped— letting His glory be displayed, not mine. 

Remember, God isn’t looking for someone with all the qualifications already. He often chooses the unlikely to accomplish His purposes—to show that it’s His power, not ours.

When we take steps of faith, even when we feel unprepared, we give God space to be our advocate, protector, and guide. If we could do everything on our own, we wouldn’t need a Savior. But we are sinful and unqualified by nature, and that’s exactly why Jesus came. Apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5). He’s our rescuer and defender. And He’s given us a helper too, the Holy Spirit. His Spirit is dwelling within us, guiding, praying, and interceding on our behalf (Romans 8:26). This so beautifully reflects God’s loving nature that promises His assistance in our times of need. 

It’s easy for me to let fear and timidity creep in as a result of feeling unqualified. And the enemy loves to use fear as a tool to discourage me and hold me back. But I won’t let Satan win. I don’t want to believe his lies that tell me I’m not enough. This only restricts me from exercising the gifts of the Spirit and diminishes my effectiveness for God. Instead, I can put on the armor of God and stand firm against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:10–18). In Christ, he has no claim over us. 

In this season of refinement, the Lord is teaching me how to walk in complete surrender and dependence on Him. Complete dependence means letting go of control and trusting that He is working all things out for my good (Romans 8:28). It means walking in faith even when I don’t feel fully ready because that’s when He does His deepest work. 

I’m learning to trust His voice more than my fears and hand over control even when the outcome is unclear. Even when it’s uncomfortable and I feel unqualified, I know He’s leading me into deeper faith and a heart more aligned with His. 

In Christ, my perspective on life is altered dramatically. Day by day, I can rest in His comforting truth that I am qualified because I am a daughter of the Most High! He is the fountain of hope, joy, and peace that my human effort can’t manufacture. He renews my strength, redefines my worth, and reminds me that I am never alone in pursuit of His good plans. 

I love this quote by Christine Caine: 

“The biblical model is that God deliberately chooses imperfect vessels—those who have been wounded, those with physical or emotional limitations. Then He prepares them to serve and sends them out with their weakness still evident, so that His strength can be made perfect in that weakness.” 

So if you’re feeling unqualified today, the pressure isn’t on you to have it all together. In all of our weakness, His strength will carry you through. And that is more than enough. 

SO GO LIVE! Live as bold women who fear and depend on the Lord. 

<3 Kate 

More encouraging verses:

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” 

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 

2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 

Hebrews 13:20-21 “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”