Called as We Are
Pastor Guðbjörg Jóhannesdóttir:
Fifteen years ago, when I first considered pursuing a call to ministry, I hesitated. I wasn’t thinking about becoming a pastor, just thinking about taking ONE class to learn more about faith in God through Jesus Christ. As I thought about my failures in love and life, I hesitated to even apply to seminary. Let me count the ways I have done or said things that would prevent me from ever being “good enough” to be any kind of a leader in church, I thought.
The truth is that none of us are “good enough” to earn a right standing with God. This is exactly why we need Christ. Once I more realized God has fully forgiven me for all of my sin and I began to forgive myself, I was able to start to more freely move in life. Yes, I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but God can still use someone like me – and someone like you - to share God’s love in the world.
Pastor Guðbjörg Jóhannesdóttir shared with me that she was not brought up in church. Her grandmother was a strong mentor for her as she dealt with loss at an early age. The death of her younger brother when she was only six years old shaped her in ways, strengthening her call to help people through grief and loss. With her husband’s strong support, she sensed a call to ministry and never looked back. Ordained 17 years ago, Pastor Guðbjörg brings her full self to her job. I found her honesty refreshing and freeing. And I like her confidence to wear pink leggings on the job!
God created the varieties of people, with their unique gifts and abilities. God’s call comes to people in different ways and in God’s perfect timing. God who created us, knows us, restores our relationship and loves us. Here are a couple of reminders from Scripture:
“But I, yes I, am the one who takes care of your sins—that’s what I do. I don’t keep a list of your sins.” Isaiah 43:25 The Message (MSG)
“As far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us.” Psalms 103:12 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
