Being the mother of God incarnate must have been a monumental task. I often wonder whether Mary ever experienced self-doubt at being the mother of Jesus Christ himself. It’s wonderful to me that her response at being told she would carry and raise the son of God was, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled,” instead of, “Are you kidding? That job is too big! Haven’t you seen my flaws?”

I have been overwhelmed and doubted myself at much smaller tasks than Mary’s. “Those aren’t my gifts,” I whine like Moses. “I need more help,” I deflect like Barak. Those are even some of the better days. There are other times I struggle to find the good at all. I look at the tasks God has set before me and I wonder if there was some sort of mix up. Why would he give me a certain challenge or task when he made me the way that he did?

There are personality tests to match people with the best line of work. It makes a lot of sense to put people in positions that align with their skill and values. The idea is that people will be happier doing things that are more congruent with who they are as a person. Yet God doesn’t always choose to work that way. He is not in the business of making people as happy as they can be in this life; he is in the business of saving as many souls as possible from the fires of hell so they can be secure with him in paradise forever.

When God sets a task before you and you can’t see how it aligns with what you believe you’re capable of handling, consider the fact that our Creator also supplies what is needed. He often does not call us to face the greatest obstacles with strengths we already possess, but rather with strengths he intends to give and grow in us on the journey. We are vessels, and if we can get out of the way, God can use us for important kingdom work, regardless of whether or not we understand the method or reason.

Mary didn’t cross reference the role of “bearing the Son of God” with her enneagram or Myers Briggs first, not even her Clifton strengths. She said, “I am the Lord’s servant.” She did not need to first identify the strength and ability within herself; she trusted God to show up with the strength needed.

Trust the Creator as Mary did—not first taking an inventory of your own strengths or abilities, but trusting him who made you to bring you through what he sets before you, regardless of your own perception of your ability to do so.