Availability vs. Ability

Back in April this email popped into my inbox:
 
Hey Sarah,

No matter how little you think you have to offer, you have special gifts and an assignment for God’s Kingdom. He wants to use you for something wonderful. While we might expect God’s work to be done through people we consider impressive—the accomplished, the powerful and the talented—he regularly does his best work through people others might overlook. In fact, God will use anyone who is willing to be used, regardless of whether any onlookers think that person is qualified or worthy. God works with the available, not necessarily with those who “look good on paper.” God is not looking for ability as much as he is availability. Keep that in mind the next time you are overwhelmed by the magnitude of what you feel God is calling you to do. Don’t do nothing just because you can’t do everything. God is simply asking us to be willing and obedient—and then he will do the rest. Look for opportunities to put your little into the hands of a big God, and watch him use it to do the impossible.

Love you,

Christine Caine
 
This email gave me so much encouragement, but not for myself! You see, we had just made the decision to go ahead with an on campus VBS and to plan and execute it under 90 days. I was trying to think of how I could recruit volunteers with such little time! We usually plan out much farther in advance. I was racking my brain trying to come up with an engaging and inspiring volunteer recruitment plan to get the best of our teachers on board; those who could take the VBS lesson plans and work with them on the fly, because we were running out of time! But then the Holy Spirit reminded me that He could pull off VBS tomorrow with no help at all. He reminded me that I needed to be open to those who were available, not focused on those who had the ‘right’ ability. He would do the rest.
 
VBS was amazing. For so many reasons. None of which are my ability to recruit, or plan, etc. VBS was amazing because the Holy Spirit was moving in our volunteers! Our youngest volunteer was 14 and our oldest was 70 something. We had some teachers, some parents, some youth, some grandparents. We had volunteers who aren’t “kid-people” and we had some who weren’t even in town the week of VBS. There really was a role for anyone who was available. That’s all we need to focus on – what is God calling us to do – then say YES! God did amazing things last week in our VBS through our willing and available volunteers. I cannot wait to see how seeds planted grow over the next year!
 
Many Blessing,