God has a plan for your life and a purpose for your future.
No matter what you’ve been through or what’s been done to you, if you’re still breathing God isn’t finished with you yet! Sometimes we just need to be reminded. Other times we need to be persuaded to believe it’s true.
In her new book, Your Life Still Counts, my friend and author, Tracie Miles shares how she convinced herself that God couldn’t use her. There were too many things she had done wrong. But over time as Tracie came to know Christ she realized she was the perfect candidate for His transforming power. Through her brokenness Jesus could show off His grace and goodness. The very things Tracie believed “disqualified” her from ministry are now some of the most impactful parts of her life’s mission and message. Today, I invited Tracie to share some encouragement I think all of our hearts need to hear:
“Have you ever felt like you had nothing special to offer God? Like maybe He doled out the spiritual gifts to everyone else and forgot to give any to you? If so, I want to challenge you to think again.
God has divinely designed a unique purpose for your life. And, you are the only one gifted to fulfill it!
But, before we can discover and embrace what God has gifted us to do, we need to do a little looking back instead of just looking forward. The reality is that God has equipped us to minister to others through the experiences of our past.
But most of us don’t want to look back. We want the past to be the past, and keep trudging ahead. We don’t think about mistakes or hurts. We’d rather bury them in our hearts than talk about them with God, much less anyone else.
But when we do that we prevent our faith from fully blossoming, and we get caught up in trying to figure out how our skills and talents might serve God. What if instead, we look back and discover how our life can serve as a shining testament of His power?
We need is more than gift-assessment; we need a life-assessment to help us discover how our journey has equipped us for God’s divine purposes.
With each situation you have experienced or endured, you have been equipped to serve God.
Your experiences have been used by Christ to strengthen you and your faith. And now He is calling you to be an example of what He is capable of doing. Not just a witness for Christ, but a witness of His power in your life. Because your life matters to God, you do have something of great significance to offer Him – and it’s you.
No one can tell your story of healing, redemption, and purpose like you can.
Even if your experience is similar to someone else’s story, your perspective of what happened and your witness to the power of God’s intervention will be different and unique.
Second Corinthians 1:4 says, “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” Your experiences do not nullify your purpose in life; they prepare you for the purpose God destined you for. They do not void you from being able to participate in ministry, but instead they equip you for it.
Your life-change, healing, faith walk, and journey of transformation could be the story that reaches the broken heart of someone who has lost hope; someone who feels like their life doesn’t matter; someone who has never believed there is a God.
No one is equipped, trained, or qualified to share your story and your faith journey except you.
You are unique. Your experiences are unique. Your story is unlike any other.
Only you can glorify God through your one-of-a-kind design by bringing comfort to others as you allow your past to become the foundation of your personal ministry. When surrendered to Christ, your past experiences will become your most profound equipping and training.
As we gather with people this Thanksgiving and Christmas, let’s look for opportunities to love on them, share our hearts and our stories, and be open to how God wants to us for His divine purpose to bring hope, comfort and love to those around us. And let’s make our lives count for Christ!
YOUR LIFE STILL COUNTS
Enter to Win
We are giving away 4 copies of Your Life Still Counts! Two of you will win two copies (one to keep and one to give away)! To enter to win, simply share your thoughts about today’s post and let us know who you would give the second copy to! [If you’re reading this via email, please click here to enter to win! All entries must be on my blog under this post.]
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I would share this book with my daughter. I see her struggling and making some fast decisions causing her grief. I recognize her pain as my own.
I would love this book it seems to cover some of the things I am walking through at the moment! I would give the other copy to my sister. We have come from a abusive background and are both struggling to realize how much we mean to God and how God uses that. God has healed so much and I am so different and grateful but some chains are a little stronger and take a little more to break. But He is the God who breaks every chain!
As a wife and mother I found this post truly uplifting. I became significantly disabled several months ago following a life threatening injury. I am still trying to ascertain who the new me is, how to function, support my family and to find HOPE for the future. I’m extremely thankful that I survived so I firmly believe God has a purpose and a plan. Doing my best to remain prayerful and patient as His plan is revealed to my family and me.
It takes faith, Joanne, just to believe that survival is proof that God has a plan for you and for your pain. I pray God gives you spiritual discernment and vision to see the great things He has in store for you , and helps you to heal and adjust to life as it is now. Praying for you –
I would enjoy the book because I would like to reflect on the ways I have been given grace for my mistakes.
I would like to give the other book to my daughter who is having a difficult time right now.
Oops…I forgot to mention who I would give the second copy to my best friend and who also is my sister n law
I’m going through a divorce and sometimes I feel so lost, like God is done with me because I failed at the most important relationship He gave me. I would love to read the book and would share with my dear friend who went through something similar and held my hand as I had to walk through it too.
I never ever thought I mattered in this world. Truly as a young girl I contemplated suicide and attempted it once with an overdose of pills. I have been beset with addictions at a very young age and trouble and heartache just seemed to follow me into every new adventure I would try. I have been free from one addiction for over 30 years only to come to the realization that I had another just as dangerous. I was saved in 2010 and because of that I was able to face that addiction. It still is a struggle but I have faith today, and I know that Jesus is the only reason that I am able to love myself today. I spent years in self hate and it just drove a wedge between me and my God. I know God has a purpose for every single person on this planet, whether they know it or not! I am coming to realize my purpose and I would love to read this book with my daughter Marisa. She is a 20 years old and wants to have a better relationship with the Lord but doesn’t know if she is going about it the right way.
Christine – it is sometimes our hardest most difficult battles that God can do the greatest things through. Our weaknesses become areas where He can do HIs best work in us and through us. I pray God continues to give you strength to overcome and maintain victory over addictions, and that He opens doors for you to use what you’ve been through to help others going through similar struggles. Praise God for all you’ve overcome thus far and for speaking truth into your daughter and helping her get to know the Lord!
i always wonder if my life really matters I feel so insignificant . so lost when it comes to me.
You matter, beloved. God calls you His own and is deeply in love with you. Cry out to Him, I’m lifting you up in prayer.
Cheryl – thank you for being so honest. So many women struggle with these feelings, wondering if they really matter to God or in this life – so you are not alone. But I pray God speaks truth and hope into your heart and draws you close to Himself. He does have a special plan for you, and for what’s happened in your life, and you are a loved, adored and priceless treasure in God’s eyes. Hugs to you –
I have struggled with re-defining myself. Once an OB RN for 12 years and 3 back surgeries in 18 months…I face disability. Who am I now? It’s a daily struggle. Taking it day by day and focusing on my 7 healthy children and a supportive husband!
Kimberly – i too felt like I had lost my identity when I quit my corporate job several years ago – it took a while for God to show me that I was new in Him, and that He has a new plan for my life, but when I embraced His plan instead of my own, everything started turning around! So keep the faith and have hope and peace that God is up to something great in your life and that He has you in a holding pattern right now until you are ready to get a glimpse of it. Right now keep focusing on being a mom and wife which is a divine calling in and of itself! 🙂
I know that there are many past mistakes that are hard to move beyond. To be able to use those times would be very uplifting to many women.
Thank you for giving me the reason to continue in my writings.
The 2nd book should go to a person that is having great difficulties in life right now. Maybe a victim of human trafficking.
Shonna – I love your comment! The enemy wants us to get discouraged and assume that what we have to say, or write, is not needed. But if God called you to share then He has a plan and purpose! Good luck as you push forward in what God has laid on your heart!
Thank you so much for writing this book…. The last year has been a “season” of learning that I still have worth. I was laid off from my job of almost 11 years. I found myself seeking work at 57 years old and finding nothing. The silver hair that I had been so proud of seemed like it was holding me back. I considered coloring it. God has been working in my heart to show me so many things… He is faithful to provide for me financially, He has a future for me in serving Him, He is the One whose approval I should seek, He will provide a job for me when the timing is right, He brings opportunity to volunteer that are more precious than working for pay, He loves me unconditionally! I could go on and on. My story is His story! Thank you for reminding me.
I have recently ended a three year relationship. I was running from God during this time. I have realized with His grace, I DO have a purpose! I just need to trust Him. The second copy I will share with my dear friend Lori. Not only have we been struggling with our lost/unknown identities, but a crippling depression. We both need hope!
I am indeed guilty of wanting to ignore my past instead of using it. Definately something I need to work on.
Dear Tracie~
Thank you for allowing God to use the “messes” in your life to create a beautiful message to so many hurting people. It book truly helps us to recognize that we are indeed “more then Conquerors in Christ.”
This is so true I know that God has purpose for me because there are times when I may not know it but I am sharing my past with someone and they are as bless as I am. Making me feel good about what I am going though easier to handle
There always someone going though something worse than you are
I would share with my friend Stephanie
I have made many mistakes, some I use as teaching tools for my kiddos – others, well… only me and my Lord know about them.
I’m a WIP I say, a Work In Progress!
2 very good friends of mine are struggling to find self-worth and move on from things in their past. I would be elated to give them this book for Christmas.
This is so true I know that God has purpose for me because there are times when I may not know it but I am sharing my past with someone and they are as bless as I am. Making me feel good about what I am going though easier to handle
There always someone going though something worse than you are
Patricia that’s a great point – we never who is dealing with something difficult in their life. Sometimes our stories, knowing that someone else has been there and survived in Christ, is exactly what someone needs to get through hard times. Thanks for sharing!
I would love to win this book. I can relate to her thoughts on not counting. Having made many bad choices and made many wrong turns in my life, I struggle with this thought every moment!
Rachel – we all do that! Which is why its so important to embrace our value in Christ regardless of what we think with our own human minds. Bad decisions dont make us bad people – just human! Thank goodness God loves us, despite us, and we all count to Him! 🙂
I think as women, we lay a lot of guilt on ourselves for our past mistakes instead of accepting God’s forgiveness and moving forward! I know that is true of me, and perhaps God isn’t as interested in me doing big things for Him, but in my heart about serving Him!
I would share this with my dear friend, Lin who has such a heart for God.