Read through the Bible and you will see a pattern. God tends to use those who are weak and broken.

19th century pastor, J.R. Miller, once wrote,

“Christ is building His kingdom with earth’s broken people. Men want only the strong, the successful, the victorious, the whole – in building their kingdoms. But God is the God of the unsuccessful, of those who have failed. Heaven is filled with earth’s broken lives, and there is no bruised reed whom Christ cannot take and restore to glorious blessedness and beauty. He can take a life crushed by pain and sorrow, and make it into a harp whose music shall be all praise. He can lift earth’s saddest up to Heaven’s glory!”

Paul wrote,

“…for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength].” – 2 Corinthians 12:10, Amplified

A.W. Tozer may have been thinking of Spurgeon’s quote below when he said,

“I doubt God can use a person greatly until he has first hurt them deeply.”

When you’re crushed and broken, don’t for a second think God’s “furnace of afflication” means he’s abandoned you.

David wrote in the Psalms,

“The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; and he saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18

**For further thoughts on this topic see my blog, The God Who Hurts Us.

Nick