When You Feel Unqualified
When You Feel Unqualified Woman of the Day: Esther Key Verse: “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” — Esther 4:14 (NIV)
Lesson Title: When You Feel Unqualified There are moments in life when you’re thrust into a space you never asked for, handed a role you don’t feel ready for, and asked to be brave when you only feel broken. That’s Esther’s story. And it might be yours too.
Who Was Esther? Esther wasn’t born into royalty — she was an orphan, raised by her cousin Mordecai in the shadow of Persian rule. Her Hebrew name was Hadassah, which means myrtle tree — a symbol of peace and hope after exile. She was a Jewish girl living under a foreign empire, forced to hide her identity. And then, without warning, she was swept up into a royal beauty pageant — one she never signed up for. After months of preparation and treatments, she became queen of the most powerful empire in the world… yet remained silent about her true identity. Esther was chosen — not because she felt qualified. She was positioned by divine providence.
A VeggieTales Reminder (and a Real-Life Risk) Okay, confession time: I loved the VeggieTales version of Esther. Queen Esther the animated green bean was brave and cute and had that dramatic palace flair. And though the story was told with sweet songs and talking vegetables, the truth underneath was never cartoonish. Esther made a sacrifice that could have killed her. You see, in ancient Persia, no one — not even the queen — could approach the king without being summoned. To do so meant death… unless he extended his golden scepter. Esther knew this. And yet she said: “If I perish, I perish.” — Esther 4:16 Her courage was not rooted in confidence — but in conviction. She wasn’t just risking her title. She was risking her life. And yet, she did it anyway — for her people, for her faith, for a God who had quietly, powerfully been writing behind the scenes the whole time.
What Esther Might Have Been Feeling We often think of queens as regal, poised, and powerful. But Esther? She was likely terrified. Overwhelmed. Questioning. And still, she went to the king. If you’ve ever stood at the edge of something intimidating — a divorce, a new job, a second chance at love, a calling you didn’t see coming — and thought, “I am not enough,”— you are not alone. Esther felt that too. But here’s the truth: You don’t have to feel qualified to be called. God equips us on the way, not always before the journey starts.
Foreshadowing of Christ Esther’s bravery paints a stunning picture of what Jesus would later do for us: She risked her life to intercede with the king on behalf of her people. Jesus gave His life to intercede with the Father on behalf of all people. She walked into the inner courts of a human king with trembling hands. He walked into the courts of heaven with nail-scarred hands. Both stood in the gap. Both bore the weight of others. Both changed history through an act of courageous love.
My Own Esther Moment I’ve had moments where I’ve been called to something bigger than me — and every part of me screamed, “I’m not ready.” Running my own small business is one of those moments. It’s exciting, yes — but also deeply overwhelming. I often feel like an imposter. Like someone else should be running this thing. Someone with more training, more expertise, more confidence. There are days when I question whether I’m equipped for all this. But I keep going. Because the company depends on me. My employees — who have become like family — depend on me. And my own family… they’re watching me, learning from me, cheering me on. There’s no golden scepter held out for entrepreneurs. Just hard work, prayer, grit, and a whole lot of leaning on God. Even writing this study — I’ve had that whisper: “Who do you think you are?” But I’ve learned to answer back: “I’m the one God positioned — and He doesn’t make mistakes.” I’m not here because I have it all figured out. I’m here because He asked me to show up. And I said yes — with trembling hands and a surrendered heart.
A Word for Women Leading Anything If you’re running a household, a classroom, a team, a company, or a ministry — and wondering if you're enough, hear this: You are. Not because you’re flawless — but because God is faithful. He doesn’t look for perfection. He looks for partnership. And if He called you to it, He will absolutely carry you through it.
Reflection Questions: Where in your life do you feel most unqualified? What might God be calling you to anyway? Are you hiding your identity — your voice, your faith, your story — in places where you’ve actually been called to shine? What would it look like to step forward, even scared? Who in your life needs you to be brave?
Prayer: God, I feel small in the face of what You’ve called me to. I worry that I’m not spiritual enough, strong enough, or ready enough. But I believe You see something in me I can’t see yet. Give me the courage to rise. Give me the faith to step forward. Use my yes for Your glory. For such a time as this, I’m willing. Amen.
