Yes, God will use you

Daily Devotional Podcast. Follow along with blog post.

I read two quotes the other day. One said, "hitting rock bottom has produced greater leaders than having an easy life" and the other said, "there are no strong people who have had an easy past." And I totally agree with both of them. 

Let me ask you this: Can you name one person in the bible who was a great leader who didn't go through anything? Can you a great leader who wasn't in the bible who didn't go through anything? I cannot. So, what does that mean? It means that if we have been through tough waters and we're willing to admit it, acknowledge it, and shame the devil, then God can indeed use us. On the flip side, if we live in denial and act as though we live a pristine life of perfection and never suffered shame, defeat, humiliation, trauma, hurt, embarrassment, loss, difficulty, pain, betrayal, confusion, etc., then God won't waste a minute on using us to connect with people. I mean comon', we haven't been through at least one of those things in our lives that has made an impact on us? That has changed us in some way that we've learned from? We haven't been through any of those things? Nothing? If we can't testify to what and how God brought us through, then we won't be able to relate to people on any deep level in which they can grow from our valley; desert, and wilderness experience. If we are so prideful that we can't tell our testimony, because it makes us uncomfortable or uneasy, then we refuse to understand what's really going on and how God's kingdom works. 

2 Timothy 1:8 says "therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord." And not only does that mean not to ashamed of God. It means not to be ashamed of what He's done for us. So here are the million-dollar questions: How are we willing to be used by God? And what are we willing to share about our lives that will set someone free? They're questions only we can answer for ourselves. Just something to ponder today.