Presence, Not Performance
Written by Dr. Susan Chan
I sensed God’s call to go to Mongolia not once, but twice. Each time, my response was the same: fear, hesitation, and a quiet resistance. I obeyed—but not without questions. I asked God for signs, and when He gave one, I asked for more. Eventually, He answered me through Joshua 1:9: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
That promise settled something deep within me. It was not certainty about the journey, but assurance of His presence. And that was enough. In May this year, I stepped onto the mission field in Mongolia—not because I felt ready, but because I trusted that God would be with me.
Through this experience, I learned a truth that continues to reshape my understanding of calling: fulfilling God’s purpose does not depend on my performance, past or present, nor on my pursuit of perfection. It depends on His presence.
In many ministry contexts today—especially among women—there is an unspoken pressure to perform. Whether leading, teaching, organizing, many quietly wrestle with the question: “Am I enough?” When results seem small and confidence feels fragile, it is easy to assume that effectiveness depends on capability, experience, or visible success.
Yet Scripture consistently tells a different story. God has never grounded His calling in human performance. He anchors it in His presence.
When Moses encountered God at the burning bush, his immediate response was not confidence but doubt: “Who am I that I should go?” (Exodus 3:11). Moses fixated on his inadequacy. God did not respond by affirming his abilities or listing his qualifications. Instead, He gave a simple promise: “I will be with you” (Exodus 3:12). That assurance—not Moses’ competence—became the foundation of his mission.
This pattern is not limited to male leaders. Women in Scripture also encountered God’s empowering presence in deeply personal ways. Esther faced a decision that could cost her life. Her courage did not arise from political skill but from the recognition that she had been positioned “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). Beneath her story lies a quiet but powerful truth: God was with her, guiding events beyond what she could see.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, offers perhaps the clearest picture of presence over performance. When the angel announced her calling, it was both humanly impossible and socially costly. Yet the message began with assurance: “The Lord is with you.” (Luke 1:28). Mary did not step forward because she felt capable. She responded in surrender: “May it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38). Her role in God’s redemptive plan rested not on her ability, but on God’s presence and power.
For Christian women today, this truth is profoundly freeing. Ministry is not a platform for proving worth, but a place for experiencing and extending God’s presence. Feelings of inadequacy, limited achievement, or fear of unfamiliar roles are not obstacles to God’s call. Often, they are the very context in which His presence becomes most evident.
God’s presence—not your performance or perfection—is what qualifies you to minister and to lead.
Prayer: Lord, thank You that when You call, You also enable and assure us of Your presence. It is Your abiding presence that empowers us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
