Yes, God Can and Wants to Use You!

Facebook Party winners announced in the post below this one. 🙂

Today, my friend Kimberly is here to openly share her struggles with condemnation and how it has made her see herself so differently than God does. She’s written something for us below, but first I want to share this powerful 2 minute video she filmed with her church to capture what God was teaching her about the destruction of condemnation and the healing power of His grace:

{If you are reading this post via email, click here to return to my blog to watch the video.}

From Kimberly…

A few years ago, if you would have asked me if I believed that God loved me, I would have told you, “Yes.” Realizing His great love for me has been one of the sweetest truths I have ever come to know.

BUT, if you had asked me if I believed God could use me or would even WANT to use me… well, I would have hemmed and hawed and never really landed on an exact yes or no. Why? Because I felt unusable. My sins and mistakes disqualified me. I looked at myself and saw all of my flaws. I saw deep insecurities. I saw my too often short temper. I saw a lack of discipline, a lack of Biblical knowledge. I saw lack upon lack, failure upon failure.

“Jesus loves me? Yes. He died for me. But Jesus would like to use me. Ummmm…seriously? I think not.”

I love how He corrects our wrong thinking through His Word.

As I sat reading the Bible one day, heart heavy from discouragement, God led me to read John 3:17. It comes right after John 3:16, one of the earliest verses we ever learn about how God loved the world so much He sent His only Son Jesus to die for us so that, believing in Him, we could have eternal life. John 3:17 goes on to tell us more:

“For God did not send His Son Jesus into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

I felt the Lord urging me to look up the definition the words “condemn.”

Condemn- 1. to pass an adverse judgement on; disapprove of strongly, censure; 2. a) to declare to be guilty of wrongdoing; convict b) to pass judicial sentence on; inflict a penalty upon c) to doom; 3. to declare (property) legally appropriated for public use; 4. to declare unfit for use or service. (Webster’s Dictionary)

That was exactly how I felt. Unsafe. Unlovely. Unusable.

Convinced that Jesus wanted to wrap caution tape around my life to keep people back. “Stay away from this one. I love her, but she’s still too messed up to be of any use to me. Better stand clear of her.”

The words of John 3:17 coupled with the last definition released a flood of truth and healing over my heart. The Father was whispering tenderly to me. He did not see me as I saw myself. He did not see a condemned building…someone dangerous. Someone unlovely. Someone unusable. He saw someone He loved so much that He would send His only Son to die a shameful and excruciating death for her. He sent His Son to save me. To forgive me. To heal me. To set me free, fill me up, and USE me.

The tears began to flow as He let me know that I am usable. And not only does He find me usable. He wants to use me. I am not the same woman I was 13 years ago.

• I have been forgiven of all of my sins. (1 John 1:9) (even the “big bad” ones)
• I am a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• I am complete in Christ. (Colossians 2:10)
• I have purpose in Him. (Ephesians 2:10)

Let these sweet truths wash over you today. Jesus did not come to label you unusable. He loves you and He has a purpose for your life that is of great use to His kingdom!

Thank you so much Kimberly for sharing your heart and being so honest with us today. I got so much encouragement from your transparency and writing. So many of us can relate to what you shared.

Let’s Connect: So friends…How about you? Do you believe God loves you, yet struggle to believe He could ever use you? Do you struggle to believe He would want to use when you look at your  flaws and failures?  I’m so thankful for Kim’s message that sets the stage for some real life transparency and hope today.

Do you know someone who feels condemned and like God can’t use them or love them? I’d love to share the truth of God’s unfailing love with them. My book is on sale today through May 11 for $6.99 at Lifeway.com! I know many of you have given it to friends and I want you to be able to do that more now than ever {especially at this price!} after watching the redeeming work Jesus is doing in your lives as we read it together. Click here if you’d like to get a copy for 50% off .

{PS. Save your receipt! I’ll be offering some FREE resources to those who buy a copy of A Confident Herat in May. Working on the details of the special promotion and will post them here by the weekend!}