"I need to sit out until I've healed properly or grown enough spiritually."
How it sounds in your head: You're not ready yet. You need more time on the bench, more healing, more maturity before God can use you. Other people are ready; you're still in recovery mode. Don't step up until you've got it together.
"Then he touched my mouth with it, and said: 'Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.' Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?' Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me.'"
-- Isaiah 6:7-8Source: religious teaching of earning readiness through process, contradicting instant commissioning.
Adults talk about 'taking time to heal' and 'don't rush the process.' It sounds wise and humble to sit out. You don't feel ready, and jumping in seems presumptuous or setting yourself up to fail again.
Paul was murdering Christians three days before. Ananias prayed, scales fell off, Paul was baptized—and IMMEDIATELY he preached Christ in the synagogues. Verse 20: 'immediately he preached.' No seminary, no healing retreat, no waiting period. Murderer to preacher in approximately 72 hours.
I REFUSE the lie that I need to sit out until I'm 'ready enough.' IT IS WRITTEN that Isaiah was purged and commissioned in the SAME moment—cleansed and sent with no gap. I am ready because HE made me ready, not because I achieved maturity. The BARAK blessing says the Lord will command blessing on my storehouses NOW—not after a waiting period. IT IS WRITTEN in 2 Corinthians 6:2 that NOW is the day of salvation. I declare I am IN THE GAME right now, fully commissioned, fully equipped.
The Father isn't making you sit in the dugout until you 'feel ready'—He's handing you the ball and saying 'You're in.' You're ready because HE says so, and His say-so is all that matters.