“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate. Luke 1:47-52 (Magnificat)
Since time immemorial, when humanity has gazed at the world — when we
have pondered the heavens, the moon, and the stars — we have sometimes
wondered, “Who am I, that He should be mindful of me?” (Psalm 8).
Across history, countless individuals have stood at the threshold of a great
calling and paused to ask, “Who am I, that I should be…?”
When young Mary was told she would conceive the Messiah, she questioned
the physical impossibility of it. Why would God choose her, a girl of humble
and lowly estate? She was a simple peasant, lacking social pedigree or status.
Similarly, when Gideon was chosen to lead an army, he asked how that could
be possible. He came from a poor family, and he was the youngest and least
significant in his household. He had no advantages of birth or privilege (Judges
6:15).
This “Who am I?” question can even provoke laughter, as it did with Abraham
and Sarah. When told they would have a son in their old age — Abraham
nearing 100 and Sarah at 90 — they could hardly believe it (Genesis 17–18).
They knew who they were all too well. What seemed incredible was that God
would choose them to parent a new lineage.
Even Moses, described as the meekest man on earth (Numbers 12:3),
asked, “Who am I?” when tasked with confronting Pharaoh and leading the
Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 3:11). Years of desert life had eroded his self-
confidence.
Modern leadership ideals often frown upon self-doubt. Yet, biblically and
classically, a humble pause to reflect on one’s inadequacy may, in fact, be the
very trait that prepares a person for the Lord’s work.
As we read through the Christmas narrative, we are reminded of this truth
again and again.
As God leads us to moments of self-insufficiency, may we never shy away
from asking, “Who am I?” For it is in recognizing our limitations that we often
make space for His
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