At times we make excuses! Yet, pay attention to a few individuals called by God; we could give diagnoses, but God calls and qualifies!
Paul was an accomplice to murderer… Not only did he hold the cloaks of those who stones Steven to death…
Before his conversion to Christianity, Saul was a zealous Pharisee who sought to eradicate the followers of Jesus, as he believed they posed a threat to Judaism. In Acts 7:54-60, we find the account of the martyrdom of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Saul is mentioned as one of the witnesses who approved of his execution (Acts 8:1). Furthermore, Acts 8:3 describes Saul as ravaging the church, entering house after house, dragging off men and women, and committing them to prison.
Paul himself later acknowledged his role in persecuting Christians in several of his letters. In 1 Corinthians 15:9, he wrote, “For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” In Galatians 1:13-14, he recounted, “For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.”
Paul’s life was dramatically transformed after his encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19).
“Elijah was suicidal. 🔑 here is after God used him extensively to proclaim His Word, Elijah desired to lay down and die!
https://ibpf.org/the-prophet-elijah-was-depressed/
Job wished he was never born. “Why did I come out from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and spend my days in shame?” (Job 20:18). If he had known that life was like this, he would rather not have been born. And that is where the chapter ends!
David was depressed and had an affair and planned the assassination of the husband of his ‘mistress’. We have read, heard, watched the story/account of David. He was Chosen, yet he was bitterly tried! Fortunately, David knew what to do in the midst of his despair. He looked for help, kept crying out to God. He placed his trust in the One who made him, loved him, and had always been with him. Many veterans, like most of us, have a hard time reaching out for help.
Yet…
Plus, David was chosen as an ancestor of Jesus birth line… Joseph and Mary were distant cousins. They each fulfilled the prophecy that the messiah would descend from the house and lineage of King David. Jesus’ legal title to the throne of King David was through Joseph, but his blood title to the throne was through Mary.
We read of David’s distress: Psalm 77: Seeking The Lord in Distress
David opens Psalm 77 (read the entire chapter) by explaining that he “cried out to God for help” when he was in distress.
Moses was anxious and had a speech impediment. When Moses was anxious about not being eloquent enough (Exodus 4:10), God promised to give him the perfect words (Exodus 4:11). Still he anxiously begged God to send someone else (Exodus 4:13).
Hannah was barren. This is self explatory! A number of woMen God touched after a period of being barren! Sarah, parents of John the Baptist, Ruth had no children with her deceased husband yet became the great grandmother of king David, parents of Samson…endless list!
https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/barren-women-in-the-bible
Jacob was a cheater. The name Jacob means “Deceiver” and what is unveiled in Genesis is the life of Jacob and his family filled with issues of deceit and deception.
https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/the-bible-says-what-jacob-was-a-liar-and-cheat-but-we-still-revere-him/
Peter had a temper. He is one of the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus. Peter was a strong personality who, to outsiders and insiders, could appear inconsistent in his Christian walk. Remember in John 21:17, when Jesus asks, ‘Peter, do you love me? ‘ He asked Peter this three times, and on the third time Peter became impatient, because Jesus kept asking.” He could be a boastful, impetuous, impulsive hot-head at times.
Noah got drunk.
Jonah ran away from God.
Gideon was insecure.
Miriam was a gossip.
Martha was a nervous wreck.
Thomas was a doubter.
Sarah was impatient.
Zaccheus was short.
Lazarus was dead. So that eons later it could not be said Lazarus was ‘comatose’ and spontaneously recovered: https://www.revealedtruth.com/bible-study/why-did-jesus-wait/
But God set them free. He used their struggles and turned them into testimony. God can turn your worst seasons around when you choose to worship Him in the middle of the storm. Turn your eyes upon Jesus and away from darkness. Choose life over death.
Worship is a choice.
You have to choose to worship despite feeling hopeless.
You have to choose to see God as bigger than your suffering.
Your worship magnifies God far above your present situation.
God does not call the qualified. He qualifies the called.”