Too Unworthy to Serve? The Lie That Holds Us Back
Have you ever avoided signing up to serve at church because you felt unqualified? Maybe you’ve thought, “I can’t even keep my houseplants alive—how am I supposed to lead a Life Group?” Or, “If they knew my past, they wouldn’t even let me mop the floors at CPC!”
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many people hesitate to serve because they believe the untruth that they’re not good enough. Maybe it’s past mistakes, a lack of Bible knowledge, or just feeling like they don’t measure up. But here’s the truth: God isn’t waiting for you to be “good enough” before He can use you. In fact, thinking we need to qualify ourselves can actually hold us back.
The Myth of Worthiness
At its core, the belief that “I’m not good enough to serve” comes from the idea that God is looking for perfect people to do His work. But if that were true, no one would qualify! Romans 3:10 reminds us, “There is no one righteous, not even one.” The beautiful thing about the Gospel is that our worthiness has never been the issue—God’s righteousness is.
When Self-Doubt Becomes Self-Righteousness
You might think, "I don’t feel righteous at all. How can my hesitation to serve be self-righteousness?"
Here’s how: If we believe our mistakes disqualify us, we’re also believing that our good behavior would qualify us. That’s a subtle form of self-righteousness—measuring our ability to serve based on what we bring to the table instead of what Jesus has already done. If we refuse to step into our God-given place because we think we’re not good enough, we’re actually saying, “Jesus’ righteousness isn’t enough for me.” Sometimes, we look around at where God has placed us and think, ‘Surely, He meant to pick someone else for this.’ But what if where you are isn’t about your qualifications, but about His grace?
The Righteousness of Christ in Us
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” That means that when God sees us, He doesn’t see our failures—He sees the perfect righteousness of Christ covering us. That’s why we can step forward and serve, not because we’ve earned it, but because Jesus has. If we’re in Christ, we are not defined by our worst moments or our biggest regrets. We don’t serve from a place of shame but from a place of grace. When we grasp that, we stop hesitating and start stepping boldly into what God has for us.
God Uses the Least Likely People
If you look at Scripture, God has a pattern of using people who didn’t feel ready or qualified:
Moses said he wasn’t a good speaker, yet God used him to lead Israel (Exodus 4:10).
Gideon saw himself as the weakest, yet God called him a mighty warrior (Judges 6:15).
Peter denied Jesus three times, yet God used him to help build the early church (Luke 22:61-62, Acts 2:14-41).
Not once did God say, “Get your life together first, then I’ll use you.” Instead, He equips those He calls.
A Call to Step Forward
If you’ve been holding back because you don’t feel “ready” or “worthy” to serve, let this be your wake-up call—God isn’t waiting for you to be perfect. He’s simply waiting for you to say yes. Your worthiness was never the requirement—your willingness is. And the good news? God’s power shines brightest through ordinary people who are willing to trust Him. You don’t have to be the most knowledgeable, the most talented, or the most put-together. You just have to be available. The same God who called Moses, Gideon, and Peter is calling you. So don’t let fear or doubt keep you on the sidelines. This is your moment. Step forward, step in—God has a place for you, and by His grace, you belong there.
And who knows? You might just find that serving doesn’t drain you—it fills you. You might make new friends, discover hidden gifts, and—best case scenario—even finally learn how to keep that houseplant alive.
