When God Uses Our Brokenness
“In a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some are for honor, and some for dishonor. One who cleanses himself from these things will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, fit for the Master’s use, and prepared for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:20-21 (MEV)
Broken. Imperfect. Flawed. Human.
We are all far from perfect – we know we are! Do you ever find it hard to believe God really loves us the way Scripture promises He does? Especially when we make terrible mistakes, fall on our faces, or make decisions that lead our lives off track.
The truth is, apart from Jesus, no one is perfect. Yet God loves us and the entire world so much He offered His one and only son to die for our us, in spite of our shortcomings.
In Romans 5:8 Paul writes: “But God has shown us how much he loves us—it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!” God knows He did not create perfect people. He knows we give in to our human frailties. And His love for us is bigger than any of our mistakes!
God loves us in our imperfection. He uses us through our failures to build His Kingdom and extend His message of salvation to the world. Consider:
- God chose Joseph to save God’s people from famine, even though Joseph’s family was so dysfunctional his brother sold him into slavery.
- God chose Ruth to be one of Jesus’ ancestors, even though Ruth was childless, a widow, and a foreigner.
- God chose Moses to represent him and be his spokesperson, even though he suffered from a serious speech impediment and murdered an Egyptian.
- God chose Abraham to be the father of faith, even though Abraham had a serious problem with lying.
- God chose Rahab for a starring role in the Bible even though she was a prostitute.
- God chose David, to be the leader of his people even though he was an adulterer and had Bathsheba’s husband killed.
The admired evangelist and Christian speaker Vance Havner wrote “God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume. It is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.”
God loves each of us. Regardless of how broken we are. Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, creators of the Bible in One Year app, offer three ways to remind us of God’s great love:
Meditate on how great God’s love is for you
Lord, I meditate on your great love for me. I pray that by your Holy Spirit you will turn the desert and dryness of my life into ‘pools of water’ and ‘flowing springs’ (Psalm 107:35 GNT).
Understand how personal God’s love is for you
Lord Jesus, thank you that you loved me and gave yourself for me. Help me trust in your great love for all the challenges I face today. (Galatians 2:11-3:9 TLB)
Know how lasting God’s love is for you
Lord, I worship You. You are the Creator of this great universe. You are all-powerful. Yet You love me, take me in Your arms and hold me close to Your heart. Please renew my strength as I wait on You. Thank You for the greatness of Your love for me and that Your love will never let me go. (Isaiah 38:1-40:31 NASB)
This week, consider the great love God has continues showing you every day. Thank Him for His mercy and grace. Remember that even at our most imperfect and broken, His love remains perfect in us.
May God always guide your path.