I Didn't Know What I Didn't Know

The other night, in the wee hours of the night, I was hanging out with Father God, as I often do. I was pondering the things He’s done that leave me in awe—things like licensing me as a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and preaching in churches. The reason why this amazes me is because, “I didn’t know what I didn’t know.” In other words, I did not think about or concern myself with knowing things more than I did with knowing and trusting Father God. For me, preaching and speaking were not based on what I knew. They were based on Who I knew, the One and only true God, with whom I had a relationship.

My faith was not in me, my wisdom, knowledge, or ability, but in Who called, created, and enabled me through the power of His Holy Spirit. As I sat there thinking about this, I realized there was something beautiful about not knowing what I didn’t know. Looking back, I realize there are so many things I know today that I didn’t know when Father God first began calling me into spaces and places. I also recognize how much I have learned about ministry, preaching, speaking, writing, producing, business, leadership, and life in general. But none of what I learned and know today changes what was true then: I didn’t need to know everything. I needed to know Him.

In 1 Corinthians 1:26–29, KJV, Paul writes this, “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.”

Father God never required me to know everything before He called me. Nor did He require me to possess every skill, qualification, or ability I would eventually need before saying yes. My sufficiency was never supposed to come from me, as noted in 2 Corinthians 3:5–6, KJV, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament…” It is and will always be that our sufficiency is of Father God.

Here is something I am realizing now: there are times when knowing more can actually cause us to hesitate more. The only way I can qualify this statement is to relate it to babies, or even to when we were young kids; we had less fear about doing or trying things. As we get older, we become more aware, and in some instances, fear becomes more prevalent. So, as I became more aware, I began to consider what qualifications I should have to speak, prophesy, etc. And it was then that, instead of looking at Father God, I began looking at what I did not have according to society and asking questions like, “Am I qualified? Do I know enough? Am I experienced enough? Do I have enough? Can I really do this?” I have since realized that those were the wrong questions. The better question was: Who called me?

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:1–5, KJV, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” And there it was, right there in black-and-white print… this is not about me, my abilities, credentials, etc.; it was this part… That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Listen, you may be standing in front of something Father God has called you to do, but you keep looking at everything you don’t know. Maybe you don’t know how it will work. You don’t know where the resources will come from. You don’t know whether you have enough experience. You don’t know all of the right people. You don’t know every step between where you are and where Father God is sending you. Hear me when I say this: you don’t have to. I didn’t know what I didn’t know, but I knew Father God. And because I knew Him, I could trust that whatever I needed to know, He would teach me; whatever I needed to have, He would provide; and whatever I needed to become, He would develop in me along the way. The same holds true for you. So, don’t allow what you don’t know to become greater than Who you know. Your faith was never supposed to rest in your own wisdom, knowledge, or ability; trust the One who called you.