“God Can’t Use Me”
I had lunch with a friend a few months ago who said, "I don't think I'm qualified to be used by God... my past is too littered with some bad stuff..." Is he really disqualified? Can we have a past that is so bad that God can simply be fed up and be done with us? Is your past so bad you don't even feel worthy to step foot into a church? What giants in your past or present are you facing?
This past weekend we talked about the story of King David (the dude who flung a rock at the giant Goliath and killed him....yep, that guy.) Here's a few points that can give us all hope:
- David was an adulterer and murderer yet God still used him
- The Bible says: "There is none good, no not one." Romans 3:10 We're all in the same boat with David... we've screwed up, we still struggle with temptations and challenges in our lives... but we can still be used by God for His ultimate purpose.
- God doesn't disqualify failures, He chooses failures.... Jesus works through failures
- After we mess up, we start "branding" ourselves... loser... adulterer...
- Failure is universal.... confession is rare... "We have a greater fear of looking bad than being bad." Just recently a former politician finally revealed he fathered a daughter after video-taped denials over the past few years...
- "Your right standing with God depends on your confession not on your performance..." God is about second chances... for all of us...
What part of your past do you feel like is holding you back to taking on the next challenge? Where do you feel disqualified or unworthy to serve or be part of what God may have for you?
You matter to God. You can be used by God...today. Still wonder if there is a God or if He really cares? Keep pressing in and asking questions... you're welcomed here.
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February 23rd, 2010 - 10:49
When you want to do great things for God and it seems like He keeps using the same person or others around you all the time, what do you do?
March 7th, 2010 - 20:55
Hey Joanne:
I’m taking a stab a bit here at you question, I may be missing the context a bit…
In my past, I know I’ve been frustrated with wanting to feel like I was doing more or what I was doing seemed insignificant… After being frustrated for several months, I had to tell myself, “Be faithful in the things and the people God has put in my life today…” I thought I should be doing more, but I realized God wanted me to be faithful in what and who was already in my life…. whether that was one person, or twenty…
If God’s using others around you, that’s something worth celebrating.
Other times in my life I’ve felt like I was trying to “force” something or create some scenario in ministry that God would use and bless. Again, I made this about me. In the book Experiencing God, it recommends “look for where God is already at work and join that effort”… I can easily slip back into “create” mode which is usually my own effort which equates to a pretty small result rather than having God leading me.
Not sure if any of this connects to what your question was, but that’s been my experience. I pray that God will bring clarity into your purpose for you life and what your next steps are. Mark Meyer