Here I Am, Lord: Choosing Obedience Even When We Feel Unqualified

I’m convinced I watched way too many movies growing up. Joe laughs every time I quote something random from the 90s, but some of those lines just stick. One of my favorites comes from The Replacements, that football movie I watched more times than I care to admit. There’s a moment when the coach asks the quarterback what he wants to do, and the quarterback says, “I want the ball.” The coach smiles and answers, “Winners always do.”

That line popped into my head this week as I was reading Isaiah. I know, comparing Scripture to a football movie might sound like a stretch, but stay with me. When God came to Isaiah in a vision and asked who would go out and warn the people, Isaiah didn’t hesitate. He didn’t ask for the job description or request a committee meeting. He simply said, “Here I am. Send me!”

Isaiah Wanted the Ball

Isaiah 6:8 (NIV)
⁸ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Isaiah didn’t know every detail, but he knew Who was calling him. Later in the chapter, God even tells Isaiah how hard the path will be. Yet Isaiah still says yes. He wanted the ball. He trusted the One handing it to him.

I would love to say that I’d respond just like Isaiah, bold and brave, hand raised high in the air. But if I’m being honest, I’m a lot more like Moses.

Moses Asked for a Substitute

Exodus 4:13 (NIV)
¹³ But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”

Bless Moses. He said exactly what many of us are thinking. He doubted his ability, questioned his qualifications, and pointed out all his flaws as if God had somehow overlooked them. I imagine Moses doing the ancient version of looking over his shoulder, saying, “Surely You meant them, not me.”

But God chooses who He chooses. Our insecurities don’t surprise Him, and our excuses don’t slow Him down. When He calls, He already knows what He’ll supply.

Jonah Ran the Opposite Direction

And then there’s Jonah, who didn’t ask for a substitute. He just ran for the hills, jumped on a boat, and sailed straight into disaster.

Jonah 1:1-4 (NIV)
¹ The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: ² “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” ³ But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. ⁴ Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 

Jonah heard God clearly but decided he could outrun His assignment. Fear, stubbornness, dread, we don’t know exactly why he ran, but we’ve all had moments like that. Times we avoided the thing God put on our heart because it felt too big, too scary, or too out of our comfort zone.

But God would not be denied. Jonah’s detour earned him a three-day stay in the belly of a great fish. And when Jonah finally washed up on the shore, seaweed and all, God spoke again.

Jonah 3:1-3 (NIV)
¹ Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: ² “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” ³ Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 

That second time hits me. God didn’t revoke the assignment. He didn’t say, “Never mind, Jonah, you blew it.” He simply repeated the call. Jonah obeyed.

Three Men, Three Responses, One Faithful God

Isaiah stepped forward.
Moses stepped back.
Jonah sprinted sideways.

And God still used every single one of them.

Their fears, their hesitations, their detours, none of it altered God’s plan. He guided them, corrected them, and empowered them in spite of themselves. Honestly, it gives me hope. It reminds me that God isn’t looking for perfection; He’s looking for willingness.

As Thanksgiving is only a few days away, while we count blessings big and small, I encourage you to whisper a simple prayer, even if it feels a little scary.

“Here I am, Lord. Send me.”

You may not feel qualified. You may be worried you’ll mess up. You may think someone else would do it better. But the Lord equips those He calls, and He loves to work through ordinary people who are simply willing to trust Him.

To God Goes The Glory!

Have A Blessed Day!

Let’s End With a Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the example of Isaiah, Moses, and Jonah. Thank You for showing us that You can use anyone who is willing to listen, follow, or even turn back after running the wrong way. Give us the courage to answer Your call, even when we feel uncertain. Quiet our excuses, calm our fears, and help us step forward in faith. Fill our hearts with gratitude and make us ready to say, “Here I am, Lord. Send me.” Amen.