GOD USES THE BROKEN

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  07/10/23

Through the years, I have met believers who have convinced themselves that God cannot use them because of a past, horrendous sin in their life—a sin repented of many years back once Christ had redeemed them.

I remember telling one of them:

While I admire your spiritual sensitivity, I have to say to you lovingly and in candor that you are dishonoring the Lord if you have come to a point in your life where you have said, “Lord, I know that I have sinned greatly. I know that I’ve borne the consequences of my sins. Lord, I know that you have forgiven me and have commanded me to forgive myself,” and you are still idle in the Kingdom of God because you have bought into the lie that says once you’re damaged goods, God can never use you again.

While the scar of failures and sin may remain for many years or even a lifetime, God loves to forgive a repentant sinner. God loves to restore those who genuinely want to be restored. God longs to renew the humble. God only despises those who are arrogant and haughty, those who are proud and are never willing to humble themselves and confess their sins. Those who have made a habit of rationalizing, explaining away, and justifying their sin will not experience restoration.

But God loves to forgive and restore a repentant sinner. God loves to use those who are truly brokenhearted and contrite. God loves to use them in a unique way.

Prayer: God, thank You that You are a God of forgiveness and restoration. Thank You that despite my past, You can still use me today to glorify You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).