“See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with all knowledge and all craftsmanship, …And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you.” Exodus 31:2-3,6 ESV

Images – Thanks to Jeremy Park (copyright) on bible-scenes.com

I am reading in Exodus and when I read these verses, God speaking to Moses about the building of the tabernacle in the wilderness, it reminded me of a saying I have heard before. I had to look up the author, Smith Wigglesworth, a British Evangelist (1859-1947). I quote, “God does not call those who are equipped, He equips those whom He has called.” This verse may have been Smith’s inspiration.

God first calls Bezalel, then equips him with the “Spirit of God,” ability, intelligence, knowledge, and craftsmanship. When God called him, Bezalel didn’t know how to build the tabernacle, but God equipped him with all that he needed and Bezalel did it, with help of course. Because God also called Oholiab and “all able men” and gave them the ability to make all the things for the tabernacle that God had commanded.

When my husband and I retired, I felt that God was calling me to write. I spent my first 12 years out of college as a teacher (my first calling), in a class for behaviorally emotionally handicapped and later first grade. Loved it! The next 12 years I was a stay at home mom with our two children (my second calling). Also loved it! The following 12 years I worked with my husband in his furniture parts business (my third calling). Loved working together!  But not much writing involved in any of those. I wasn’t equipped to be a writer, but the feeling, the pull, persisted.

God guided my path and began to equip me. I signed up for an SCBWI (Society for Childrens’ Book Writers and Illustrators) conference and attended workshops on writing for children. A year later, I attended my first Christian Writers conference and felt my calling was confirmed. The next year, I began my blog. I am currently in my seventh year writing devotionals online, one for adults and one for children, so families can be in God’s word together. I have over 600 posts.

I sometimes still struggle seeing myself as a writer, although I did have a devotion published in an anthology of devotions after a writer’s conference. I have not yet had a children’s book published, fingers still crossed. But all in God’s timing, not mine. Mine is simply to write for Him.

This week, define your calling. How has God equipped you? I’d love to hear your story!

I thank God for each of you! And I thank you for joining me this week as we listen to God’s call and work with His abundant equipping.

Blessings and joy as God calls and equips!