The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. – 1 Samuel 16:7, NIV
After coming back from two tours of duty overseas, George struggled with a traumatic brain injury. He found it difficult to remember short-term information. He never slept more than a few hours at a time. He sometimes panicked when confronted with a new situation.
Before the injury, George had been confident and happy. He had planned on returning to his hometown and becoming a pastor. Now, he struggled just to make it through the day. He managed to connect with a few other veterans and formed a regular meeting. Each week, they got together to share what they were dealing with.
When he was with his father, George said, “I know I was meant to be in ministry. I want to serve God—I just feel so shattered now.”
His father shared, “Just because you’re broken doesn’t mean you can’t serve God. Some of the most profound lessons I’ve learned have come from broken vessels.”
It’s easy to think something disqualifies you from serving God. Maybe you think you can’t because you have a painful past, a disability, or a difficult home life. But what you may see as obstacles could be the area of ministry that God is calling you to.
Prayer:
Lord, I’m broken and I’m fragile, but I’m Yours. Use this broken vessel to bring honor and glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
