God Uses Broken Vessels, and He Wants to Use You
Have you ever felt too broken to be used by God? Bekah and I are sharing another devotion from our mother-daughter devotional book, Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls. Let’s talk about the ways God uses broken vessels for his glory.
This devotion is directed toward teen girls but is true for all of us in our brokenness. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you find hope in your brokenness.
God Uses Broken Vessels
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
My early twenties were tumultuous. I was angry with God and decided to live for myself instead of living for him. After a few tough years, I realized I wasn’t cultivating the life I wanted for myself. I returned to God with a humble heart and asked him to help me put my life back together.
When I first returned to the Lord, I felt disqualified from ministering to others. In the meantime, God began the restorative work of healing my heart. I also began to realize that God uses broken people to fulfill his purposes.
I remember sharing my feelings with an older friend who looked straight into my eyes and said, “Stacey, God will use the hard parts of your story to minister to others in powerful ways.”
God Uses Broken Vessels for the Good of Others
Decades later, I can attest that my friend was right. God has used the most painful parts of my story to minister to young women who are facing similar situations. In fact, the hard parts of my story are the precise reason some of the women in my life have decided to trust me.
Nobody wants to share their dirt with someone who is perfect. The women in my life know I’ve made mistakes. Because I’m willing to be honest about my life, they offer me the gift of transparency about their lives.
I share this humbly. I also share it to encourage every young woman who feels too broken to be used by God.
God uses broken vessels.
Today’s Focus Verse tells us that God wants us to comfort others with the same comfort we first received from him.
God will use the hard parts of your story to comfort, encourage, and inspire others, too. Revelation 12:11 reminds us that we overcome the enemy by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. Your story matters, and God wants to use it—even the imperfect parts—to minister to others.
Teen’s Reflection
What parts of your life feel too broken or messed up to be used by God? What holds you back from believing that God will use you?
Mom’s Reflection
After responding to your daughter and encouraging her, write about a part of your life that once felt broken but was later used by God to help others.
More Thoughts on How God Uses Broken Vessels
The following reflections are not part of our new book, but I share them as we reflect on letting God use the broken parts of our stories for his glory.
The hard parts of my current story include career disappointments, parenting failures, fear, anxiety, and more. When I start to question God’s purpose amid these troubles, I remind myself that he will use these parts of my story to encourage and comfort others as well.
Your story matters and God wants to use it—even the imperfect parts—to minister to others.
Your story matters and God wants to use it—even the imperfect parts—to minister to others. #brokenness #weakness #mininstry #lovingothers Share on XWeakness Is the Perfect Platform for God to Make His Power Known
In a previous blog post, I wrote about the morning after Bekah, our first child, was born. As I held her in the hospital room, God reminded me of nine short words: “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).
I knew God wasn’t asking me to equip myself for the calling of motherhood. He wasn’t calling me to perfection or self-sufficient strength; instead, he was teaching me to trust him. He reminded me that he would give me all I needed to care for our child.
That moment in the hospital took place 14 years ago, but I remember it often. It has become an anchor on my journey of parenthood.
Every time I start to doubt my ability to raise my children, I remind myself that my weakness is the perfect platform for God to show up in his power.
He provides all I need for every step of this journey.
God is not calling you to hold your world together either. Perhaps you feel weak and entirely insufficient in some realm of your life. You might feel like you’ve messed up too much or are too broken to minister to others.
You Have Never Fallen Too Far
If this is you, seek healing through pastoral care, counseling, and a community of loving people. Let God begin the work of healing your heart. But remember this: Your weakest areas are the precise places where God is waiting to move and make his power known.
God is inviting you to new levels of trust. He is allowing this weakness so that you can experience his power and encounter him in new ways.
God is inviting you to new levels of trust. He is allowing this weakness so that you can experience his power and encounter him in new ways. #trustingGod #weakness Share on X
Calling All Parents (and Grandparents)!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. You can find all three books here or read more below.
Calling All Boy Moms (and Dads)!
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Find Our Family Devotionals Here
Find all three books right here. They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.
Learn Why Willpower Doesn’t Work and Experience God’s Deliverance and Healing
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book as a free eBook on Kindle Unlimited or for 12.99 in print right here. (If you do not have Kindle Unlimited, you can try it out with a free three-month trial!) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
A Free Devotional to Help You Find Peace in God’s Presence
I invite you to create space for God to transform your life by downloading a free copy of my devotional eBook, The Lean Into Grace Devotional: An 8-Day Devotional for Healing, Deliverance, and Replenishment. Find it for free here. I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free. I invite you to explore the collection right here!
