Somewhere along the way, you decided that God couldn’t possibly use you. Not after the choices you made. Not after the detour your life took. Not after the divorce… the addiction… the abortion… the shame. You look at your past and disqualify yourself from the very thing God already called you to do. But here’s the truth that sets women free: God called you anyway.
He saw it all – every misstep, every painful season, every secret regret – and He still called you.
God Doesn’t Waste a Thing
In Romans 8:28, we are reminded that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” That means every single part of your story – yes, even the parts you try to hide – can be woven into God’s greater purpose for your life.
Our mistakes do not cancel out our calling. They become part of the message.
God doesn’t call the flawless; He calls the willing. And He takes our mess and turns it into ministry. He takes our wounds and makes them windows through which His glory shines.
Look at the Women God Used
Take a moment and think about the women in the Bible God used in mighty ways.
- Rahab was a prostitute, but God used her to protect the Israelite spies and ultimately included her in the lineage of Jesus (Joshua 2, Matthew 1:5).
- The Samaritan woman at the well had five husbands and was living with a man who wasn’t her husband – and yet she became one of the first evangelists, drawing her whole town to Jesus (John 4).
- Mary Magdalene had been delivered from seven demons, and she was also the first to witness and proclaim the risen Christ (Luke 8:2, John 20:18).
God didn’t wait for these women to get it all together. He met them right in their mess, and called them anyway.
So why do we disqualify ourselves from the calling of God based on what He already redeemed?
Your Past Prepares You for Your Purpose
One of the biggest lies the enemy whispers is that your past disqualifies you. But what if the very thing you’re ashamed of is the thing God wants to use to help someone else?
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 tells us that God “comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” That pain you walked through? It wasn’t for nothing. It made you more compassionate. It gave you a testimony. It positioned you to reach people others can’t.
Your story has power. Not because it’s perfect, but because God showed up in it.
Don’t Let Shame Silence You
Beautiful Woman of God, I need you to know, shame is not from God. Conviction draws us closer to Him. Shame pushes us away and makes us hide. But Genesis 3 reminds us that even when Adam and Eve hid in shame, God still came looking for them.
And He’s looking for you too.
God is not intimidated by your past. He’s not shocked by your scars. In fact, He wants to use them to reach the woman who feels just like you used to feel – lost, broken, unworthy.
But she’ll never know freedom if you stay silent.
Say Yes Anyway
You don’t have to have all the answers. You don’t need a spotless résumé. You just need a willing heart.
God called you anyway. That dream you keep pushing down? It’s still alive for a reason. That fire that won’t go out? It’s not a mistake, it’s a calling.
So take the step. Share the story. Start the ministry. Launch the business. Write the book. Mentor the girl. Lead the group.
If He called you, He will equip you. Isaiah 41:9 reminds us of His promise: “I have chosen you and have not rejected you.”
That’s your confirmation.
Final Thoughts
God already knew about every wrong turn when He wrote your calling into His plan. He’s not rewriting your purpose because of your past. He’s redeeming your past because of your purpose.
So no more shrinking back. No more waiting until you feel “ready.” No more believing that your mistakes have disqualified you.
God called you anyway.
Now go ahead and walk like it.
