Stepping into your calling: Knowing that leaders are made, not born, should reassure you

King David in Prayer, by Pieter de Grebber, c. 1640(Wikipedia)

In one sense, God has created each and every one of us to have the capacity and potential to do great things. The more that we rely on Jesus Christ and His power, the closer we are to fulfilling the great and wonderful plans God has made for us.

God calls us to greatness. He calls us to become leaders. But we cannot do great things on our own. We need two things: The power and presence of God in our lives, and a God-given team to help us reach our goal. That being said, we need to lead.

But many people who want to pursue God's call are afraid to take up the challenge because they feel they weren't born with the right skills, the right charisma or the right family name. However, in the Bible we see people called by God even if they weren't born leaders.

David was born to a small humble family, yet God called Him out of his unlikely background to become the king of a nation. Joshua was born in captivity, but God used Him to be one of the mightiest generals the world has ever seen. Jesus was born in a manger, but He became a shepherd to us all.

Just as God said to Abraham in Genesis 12:2, "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing."

Abraham wasn't born already packed with the faith, ability and power to be the father of a great nation. But God built him up to be one.

Leaders are made, not necessarily born. While we are all created to have the potential for greatness, the problem comes when we do not meet the world's standards of where leaders originate from—a good background, good education, certain looks and features, and so on.

I do not mean to put down any of these things. If you have a good background, good education, certain looks and features, and so on, then God has blessed you. Use those strengths to fulfil God's purposes.

But if you don't know that at the end of the day, it is by Jesus' power and identity that we are given the ability to lead. He is the one that empowers us even in the midst of weakness to do great things for God.

2 Corinthians 12:9 tells us, "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 weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."