The Difference Between Being Equipped and Feeling Ready
I’ve always hated math.
From the moment I had to stay in from recess in second grade because I didn’t color the flowers on my greater than and less than worksheet correctly, I knew words and creativity would always be my first love. See, the directions on the worksheet were to color the flowers that were greater than green and less than yellow. I chose to color the greater than side of the flower green and the less than side yellow, and my teacher did not approve of my interpretation of the directions. It was the 80s, and education was much more heavily focused on following directions than understanding concepts. My understanding of the concept and creative interpretation were not rewarded.
From that day forward, I made it my own personal mission to despise all things mathematics.
It worked for the entirety of my educational years until I hit my junior year of high school when my Algebra II teacher took it upon himself to inform my mother that I could be a straight-A student if I would only apply myself.
Seriously, Mr. Riley?
What did I ever do to you except sit (somewhat) quietly in your class and be completely satisfied with the Bs I earned with only minimal effort?
I lamented the need for math and numbers as often as possible throughout my adolescence and early adult life, finding every opportunity I could to express how words were so much better than numbers.
The irony was not lost on me when, at the age of forty, I began working with my dad on home renovations (we consider the term “flipping” to be a bit too flippant...).
While my creativity flourished during these projects, one annoying fact remained:
I spent my days mathing.
And grumbling.
And occasionally cursing Mr. Riley.
I’m not sure whether my dad did it as a sick joke or simply didn’t feel like figuring anything himself, but our daily routine quickly became conversations about what we needed to do next followed by him telling me to calculate the materials before we headed to Home Depot.
All that algebra and geometry I had scoffed at during high school came back with a vengeance.
I’d love to sit here and tell you how much my love for math and numbers has flourished, but that would be a lie. I still hate it. But I can do it. Pretty quickly and pretty accurately. Even though it isn’t my favorite task, it is one I have been equipped to fulfill.
The Parts We Don’t Like
Sometimes I think we’re guilty of harboring this same attitude toward parts of the author life.
We love the writing itself. The problem is that being an author requires more than writing. It requires marketing. It requires learning new technology. It requires creating content. It requires showing up consistently when we’d rather stay hidden behind the manuscript.
We often tell ourselves we don’t have enough time, enough knowledge, enough confidence, or enough experience. Some of those concerns are legitimate. But most of the time, the real issue isn’t that we aren’t equipped. It’s that we don’t feel ready.
If I’m being completely honest, I didn’t always get my material calculations right when I first started. It took me a while to figure out that I needed to add extra material to account for mistakes and the unexpected. It took time to learn how floor joists were actually laid out instead of simply dividing a measurement and hoping for the best.
Even now, I still make mistakes. I still miscalculate things. I still occasionally end up short on materials because someone changed the plan after I already placed the order. But that doesn’t mean I stop. It doesn’t mean I throw in the towel. It doesn’t mean I decide I’m not cut out for renovation work. It simply means I learn something for the next project.
And that’s how we should approach the author life as well.
We can sit paralyzed by imposter syndrome and fear of failure forever. Or we can start moving.
Equipped Doesn’t Mean Ready
Here’s one thing I’ve learned: God doesn’t always equip us by giving us all the answers. Sometimes He equips us by giving us the ability to find them.
That was a lesson I had to learn for myself. I had to understand the difference between having all of the answers and being willing to seek out the answers.
When I first started my author journey, I had no idea what I was doing. But I quickly discovered there were people who did know what they were doing, and many of them were generously sharing their knowledge through blogs, YouTube videos, podcasts, and articles.
I didn’t spend money on courses during my first year as an author. Instead, I invested my time. I learned. I researched. I asked questions. I searched for answers every time I ran into a problem I didn’t know how to solve.
Only later did I begin investing in tools and communities that helped me grow further.
The point isn’t that everyone should follow the exact same path. The point is that God had already provided what I needed to get started. Not all the answers. The ability and opportunity to seek them.
Sometimes we forget this. We assume that because something feels difficult, we’re not called to it. We assume that because we don’t know how to do it yet, we must not be equipped.
But God rarely hands us a complete roadmap. More often, He gives us the next step.
Called and Equipped
Even though I generally dislike Christian clichés, there is one phrase I find myself returning to again and again: If God has led you to it, God will lead you through it.
If God has called you to write, He will equip you for that calling.
That doesn’t mean it will be easy. It doesn’t mean you won’t fail. It doesn’t mean you’ll never create a social media post that nobody sees or spend hours on something that doesn’t work. It doesn’t mean you’ll always feel confident.
But none of those things are disqualifications.
Maybe being equipped for your calling doesn’t mean already knowing how to do everything. Maybe it means being willing to learn, ask questions, make mistakes, seek wisdom, and keep showing up when you don’t know what comes next.
God never asked Moses, Esther, David, or Peter to arrive fully prepared. He asked them to be willing. And He equipped them along the way.
The same is true for us.
If God has called you to write, stop waiting until you have all the answers. Pick up the next tool. Learn the next skill. Take the next step.
Trust that the God who called you is still equipping you.
Reflection Questions
What part of the author life have I been avoiding because I don’t feel ready? What would it look like to take one small step forward anyway?
Where have I confused being equipped with already having all the answers? How might God be inviting me to learn rather than wait?
What is one skill, tool, or area of knowledge I need to develop in order to steward my calling well, and what is the next practical step I can take this week?
I write in two spaces. A Seat at the Table is where I explore faith, healing, and making room for honesty after it’s been made complicated. Ink & Intention is for writers who want to show up with clarity, discernment, and integrity—especially online.
I’m also the author of Breathing Again and several guided journals, and I work with writers who want thoughtful, grounded support as they find their voice and shape what comes next.
If you’re a writer looking for thoughtful encouragement, practical strategy, and honest conversations about the writing life, you’re also welcome to join us inside The Visible Author Facebook Community.
If something here resonated, you’re welcome to explore more at your own pace. You can find everything in one place at KristenNeighbarger.com.
