Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Hebrews 13:20-21

We’re called to walk by faith. And we want to, of course, but lurking in the depths of our heart is undeniable doubt. Before we take one step of obedience toward what God is calling us to, or to remain where he’s placed us, we want the answer to one simple question: how? 

We’re not alone. Countless heroes of the faith asked the very same question: 

Perhaps you’re asking the same:

How can I endure this circumstance? Walk this road? Live like this? Let go of that dream? Step out of the safety of the boat and onto rough waters? Move forward when I don’t have the resources? 

In the benediction of the letter to the Hebrews, the writer not only sums up his deep prayers for his listeners (to have a vibrant relationship with the Shepherd, Jesus), he answers our question. God’s grace at work in believers, through the blood of Jesus, equips us for the work that pleases him. Equipping doesn’t come from within ourselves. It comes from God, in his way, in his time. 

In the original manuscripts, the word for “equipping” was the Greek word “katartidzo.”  A more literal translation would be “to make perfect.”

 

The doctor’s in the original audience would understand “katartidzo” to mean "to set a broken bone.” The fishermen would recognize it in the context of “mending a broken net.” For sailors - to “outfit a ship for voyage.” For a soldier – “to equip an army for battle” (from Wiersbe’s commentary on the New Testament). 

For you and me, we are equipped, or made perfect, for the Lord’s work because of the finished work of Jesus. He mends and heals our brokenness, and equips us for the battle. The battle over insecurity, inadequacy, too few resources, doubt, fear, apathy has been won by the Shepherd of our souls. The promise to work in and through those who are willing is secure. He provides the calling and the means. He makes us perfect for his work.   

Imagine what our lives might look like if instead of asking “How?”, we prayed:

“Lord, make me perfect in every good work to do your will. Work in me that which is well-pleasing in your sight, through Jesus, for his glory” (Wiersbe).

What difference might this make in your life? 

What steps will you take to trust God’s equipping instead of asking “How?”