This month, our church added a new service time because we’re growing so quickly. The new time presents additional opportunities to serve in every capacity: from greeters to children’s ministry to worship leaders and everything in between. My husband has talked about playing guitar at church for a while now, and the other day, I said, “Here’s a chance to jump right in.”

He hesitated. “I’m not ready. I need to practice more.”

As I started to tell him that he’ll never be ready and should try out anyway, I stopped. How many times have I hesitated to answer God’s call to love people because my house was too messy, I was too tired from chasing my toddler, or I felt unprepared? More times than I care to count.

Many of us genuinely want to serve God, but perhaps right now doesn’t seem convenient or we don’t feel qualified. Ready or not, we can and should serve.

Serve Right Where You Are

A woman in the Bible known only as the Shunammite Woman modeled hospitality right where she was. At first, she provided meals to Elisha and his servant when they passed by their area (2 Kings 4:8). No doubt a busy wife and homemaker, she nevertheless looked around and realized she and her husband had room to spare. So, she talked to her husband to get his thoughts on her idea. “Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there” (2 Kings 4:10, NKJV). Whenever Elisha traveled their way, he now had his own place to stay.

Maybe we don’t have a spare apartment for guests, but could we make a meal for a new mom or shut-in? Could we mow an elderly couple’s lawn or trim their bushes? Let’s sit down with our spouses (or parents or friends) and brainstorm how we can serve right where we are, with what we have.

Recognize God Often Calls the Unlikely

The time of the judges in Israel resembled a series of highs and lows. Israel would sin and be overtaken by their enemies. They would repent, and God would provide a judge and a rescuer for them. One such time when Israel needed a hero, God chose an unlikely man named Gideon.

When the Angel of the Lord appeared to him with the charge to “save Israel from the hand of the Midianites” (Judges 6:14), Gideon immediately protested. “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house” (Judges 6:15).

The weakest and the least. We have all felt “less than” in some way. Maybe we’ve felt insecure that we’re not as good at cooking as so-and-so. Maybe we’re more introverted than extroverted, and the idea of greeting visitors at church terrifies us. Be encouraged that God wants to use us, insecurities and all.

How? The answer is the same the Angel of the Lord gave Gideon: “Surely I will be with you” (Judges 6:16). We truly can do all things through Christ Who is our strength (Philippians 4:13).

Embrace Your Season

My husband told me the other evening, “I signed up. We’ll see what happens.” I am so proud of him for taking steps to serve and suddenly found myself wishing that I could also join the music team, something I did before our son was born. But I realized that right now, I’m in a different season of service: working in children’s ministry, taking meals to my fellow mamas, and signing up as a volunteer for summer VBS.

Will there be another time when I can rejoin the praise team? I think there will be, but right now, God has some other assignments for me. I’m grateful for His reminder to savor this precious season of our son being young and serve in ministries that align with it.

What about you? Where is God calling you to serve, whether in your local church, in your own home, or in some other area? How can you start right now, whether you feel ready or not?