DAY 3 — The Weakest One in the Room? God Might Be After You | Excuses God Didn’t Accept

Have you ever wondered how God shows up in the areas of our lives where we feel the most unnoticed and unsure? He steps into the quiet corners—places where we don’t feel loud, strong, or significant. 

While others seem to stand tall and confident, we’re simply trying to find our footing. Yet it’s in those unlikely, overlooked spaces that God chooses to speak.

This is exactly where we find our Bible character for today - Gideon. 

When God approached him, Gideon wasn’t praying for a calling or asking for an assignment. He wasn’t on a mountaintop or standing in victory. Gideon was hiding — literally — trying to thresh wheat in a winepress so his enemies wouldn’t steal it. He was afraid, tired, and surviving… not thriving.

Yet right there in that hidden place, God appeared to Gideon.

Judges 6:12 (NIV) says: “When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, ‘The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.’”

Gideon probably looked around the room thinking, “Who are you talking to?” Because he didn’t feel mighty. He didn’t feel strong. He didn’t feel chosen.

And Gideon said so openly. In Judges 6:15 (NIV), he replied: “Pardon me, my lord…but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

In other words: “God, You’ve got the wrong person. I’m the weakest. The smallest. The last one anyone would expect.”

Indeed, many of us talk to God the same way.

“I don’t come from much.”

“My family isn’t strong.”

“Nobody expects anything from me.”

“I’m not good enough.”

“I’m not strong enough.”

“I’m the least.”

But our God specializes in using the least. Aren’t you glad about that? I certainly am. God chooses people others overlook. And He answers weakness, not with flattery, but with His presence.

Judges 6:16 (NIV) says: “The Lord answered, ‘I will be with you…’”

God didn’t say, “Gideon, you’re secretly strong.” He didn’t say, “Stop being dramatic — you’re great.” He didn’t say, “You’re actually very qualified.”

God redirected Gideon’s focus — just like He did with Moses and Jeremiah. Because the strength God wants us to walk in does not come from us — it comes from Him.

Throughout Scripture, God has a pattern of choosing unexpected people:

David, the youngest brother — 1 Samuel 16:11–12 (NIV)

Ruth, a foreigner with nothing — Ruth 2:10 (NIV)

Mary, a young girl from Nazareth — Luke 1:26–28 (NIV), and we will talk some more about Mary as the series continues.

Ordinary fishermen becoming disciples — Matthew 4:18–22 (NIV)

Why does God do this?

Because when God gets glory through the least likely person, the whole world sees His hand — not theirs. This person knows without a doubt that in and of themselves, they could not have accomplished what they did.

Gideon looked at his family history and saw weakness. God looked at Gideon and saw destiny. Gideon saw limitations. God saw leadership. Gideon saw fear. God saw a fighter.

And God sees the same in us. Hallelujah.

Some of us are convinced that our background disqualifies us. But Psalm 113:7 (NIV) reminds us: “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap.”

Some of us think our weaknesses disqualify us. But 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) says: “My power is made perfect in weakness.”

And some of us believe our past is too broken. But Joel 2:25 (NKJV) assures us: “I will restore to you the years…”

Gideon stood before God feeling like the least, but God was not intimidated by his weakness. God wasn’t there to confirm Gideon’s insecurities — He was there to break them.

And that’s the truth for us today. God is not asking us to be the strongest one in the room. He is asking us to trust the One who is The Strongest. Amen?!

There may be someone among us today who may be feeling like you’re the least qualified. You may feel unnoticed, overlooked, or underestimated. You are being encouraged right now to know that if God chooses you, He chooses you fully — weaknesses included.

Just as God told Gideon in Judges 6:16, He is telling someone today: “I will be with you.” 

So we don’t have to feel like the strongest one in the room. We just have to say yes. Answer the call of God. Because when God is present, the least becomes the leader, the weakest becomes the warrior, and the overlooked becomes the chosen. 

Hallelujah.