Have you ever scrolled through social media, watching someone else’s highlight reel, and thought, I wish I could be that talented, that bold, that impactful for God? It’s easy to feel like we’re not enough, like the skills we have are too ordinary for God to use in any meaningful way. But the story of Jael in Judges 4 reminds us that God can take our common, everyday abilities and use them for extraordinary purposes.

Who Was Jael?

Jael wasn’t a warrior or a prophetess. She wasn’t a leader or a soldier. She was a homemaker, living in a tent, minding her own business when God placed an extraordinary moment of opportunity in her path. Her husband’s alliance with King Jabin brought Sisera, the enemy commander, to her doorstep as he fled from battle. Jael didn’t need a sword or a strategy meeting. She used what she had—a tent peg and a hammer, tools she likely used in her daily life—to deliver Israel from oppression.

Her story is a vivid reminder that we don’t need a flashy platform, a long list of credentials, or even what others might call “special skills” to do something significant for God. We just need to be ready, willing, and faithful with what He’s already given us.

The Power of Ordinary Skills

In Jael’s time, setting up and taking down tents was a common task, especially for women in her culture. She had probably driven countless tent pegs into the ground over the years, never imagining that one day, this skill would be key to defeating Israel’s greatest enemy.

What are the “tent pegs” in your life? Maybe it’s your ability to cook a meal, write a kind note, organize a space, or listen to a friend in need. These may seem like small things, but in God’s hands, even the simplest skills can accomplish incredible victories.

Avoiding the Trap of Comparison

It’s tempting to compare ourselves to others and feel inadequate. Maybe you see someone leading worship with a voice that moves people to tears or a speaker whose words inspire thousands. But Jael’s story shows us that God’s victories aren’t limited to public stages or grand gestures. The quiet, unseen skills matter just as much.

Instead of envying what others have, focus on what God has placed in your hands. Are you good at encouraging others? God can use that. Are you a natural problem-solver? God can use that too. He’s not looking for perfection; He’s looking for faithfulness.

Faithfulness Opens the Door to Opportunity

When Sisera came to Jael’s tent, she had a choice. She could have hidden or ignored him, but instead, she seized the moment. Jael didn’t wake up that day knowing she’d play a pivotal role in Israel’s victory, but because she was ready and willing, God used her.

Opportunities to serve God often come in unexpected ways. They may not look like grand, life-altering moments at first. They might look like helping a neighbor, mentoring a young person, or stepping out in faith to start a small project. When we’re faithful in the little things, God entrusts us with more.

How Jael’s Story Speaks to Us Today

1. Your Skills Are Enough
   God doesn’t need you to be someone else. He needs you to be you, fully available and faithful with the gifts and skills He’s given you.
2. Seize the Moment
   Be ready when God places an opportunity in your path. It might not look glamorous, but it could be the beginning of something extraordinary.
3. Trust God with the Outcome
   Jael likely didn’t know how her actions would fit into God’s larger plan, but she trusted Him. We don’t have to see the whole picture to take the next step in faith.
4. Ordinary Is Not a Limitation
   God has a history of using ordinary people in extraordinary ways—David with his sling, Moses with his staff, and Jael with her tent peg. What’s in your hand right now? Trust that God can use it.

God Can Use You Too

Jael’s story reminds us that God doesn’t call the equipped—He equips the called. You don’t need to wait until you feel more qualified or skilled. You just need to say, Here I am, Lord. Use me.

So the next time you feel like your skills are too small or insignificant, think of Jael. She wasn’t a warrior, but she was ready. She didn’t have a sword, but she had a tent peg. And in God’s hands, that was more than enough.

Let’s talk: What are the “tent pegs” in your life? How can you be faithful with the skills God has given you? Share your story in the comments—I’d love to hear how God is using your ordinary to accomplish His extraordinary.