Your Past Doesn't Disqualify You

Isaiah 43:19 — "For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland."

Have you ever felt like something from your past makes you unworthy of being used by God?

Maybe you've made choices you regret, struggled with things you wish you could change, or wondered why God would ever choose someone like you to make a difference.

I get it. I've struggled with those thoughts, too.

But here's something I've come to believe: Your past doesn't disqualify you from God's plans. In fact, He can use what you've been through to prepare you for what He has ahead.

When I first felt God calling me to start Faithful Workouts, I could have come up with a hundred reasons why I wasn't the right person.

You're a nobody. You're too old. You've made too many mistakes. Who are you to teach others about God?

Seriously, the list goes on!

I'll never forget getting a call from a National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) station saying they wanted to air Faithful Workouts on DirecTV.

My very first thought was, "They don't know you're a nobody."

But almost immediately, I felt God speak something very different to my heart:

"Don't you dare believe that. I created you to do this."

That moment has stayed with me.

Here I was, a very imperfect woman, fairly new in my faith, with absolutely no experience producing television shows. I could have allowed my insecurities and past mistakes to convince me I wasn't qualified.

But I chose to trust God and take the next step.

And I'm so thankful I did.

Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works that He prepared in advance for us.

I believe Faithful Workouts is part of the work God prepared for me. And I believe He has good things for you to do, too.

Think about how many people in the Bible had pasts that could have made them feel unworthy of God's calling.

• Moses killed a man and doubted his ability to speak, yet God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

• Rahab had been a prostitute, yet she became part of Jesus' family line.

• David committed adultery and arranged for a man's death, yet God continued working through his life as David repented.

• Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, yet Jesus restored him and gave him an important role in the early Church.

• Paul persecuted Christians, yet God transformed his life and used him to spread the gospel.

None of these people had perfect pasts. Their choices had real consequences, but their failures weren't the end of their stories.

God didn't wait for them to have perfect lives before He began working through them.

And He isn't waiting for you to have a perfect past, either.

I wonder how often shame keeps us from doing something God is calling us to do.

Maybe you've wanted to encourage someone, volunteer, share your faith, repair a relationship, or try something new, but a thought keeps creeping in:

"Who am I to do that?"

Here's what I want you to remember: God knows your entire story. He knows your strengths, your weaknesses, your mistakes, and your struggles. And He can still use you to make a difference.

You have experiences, gifts, and opportunities that are unique to you. Don't let shame convince you that you have nothing to offer.

Take a few minutes to watch the short video in today's lesson. Then spend some time praying about what God might be asking you to do.

You don't need to know exactly how everything will work out. Sometimes the most important thing is simply being willing to take the next step.

And one more thing before you go!

If you've been around Faithful Workouts for a while, you know how much I believe our physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional health are connected.

Taking care of your body can help improve your mood, build confidence, and give you more energy to do the things God has called you to do.

So I want to encourage you to make time for today's workout! Not because you need to change who you are to be worthy, but because you're already worthy of being cared for.

You are loved, you have a purpose, and your past doesn't have to determine your future.