I awoke to a misty morning sandwiched between winter and spring. Rain visited the emerging plants, leaving droplets of water clinging to bright green leaves. Buds of new life on otherwise stark, bare trees reminded me of God’s faithfulness to revive His creation. Inside me, though, the stubborn barrenness of winter still prevailed. With a sigh, I prayed that He would revive me.

Consumed with sadness and worry, I was caught in the web of my husband’s growing drinking problem. Its sticky strands of deception and manipulation wrapped me in an immobilizing grip of fear. Still, I kept it all inside.

One day, however, at a women’s Bible study, I could hold it in no longer. I didn’t want to be that person who overshared, but I had to give voice to the storm that had long churned within me. As I finished, I expected warm, fuzzy words or at least a few awkward hugs.

Instead, a woman blurted, “Do you really think you should be working with impressionable teenagers?” Apparently, I seemed unstable and my family far too messy for the time I spent volunteering at the local high school. The woman indicated I should step down from my leadership role in the students’ devotional Bible study. I was stunned and discouraged to be considered disqualified.

Have you ever been disqualified or discarded as unfit? It hurts!

The thought of not measuring up left me frustrated and battling feelings of rejection. But then I remembered that the Lord Himself says, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT).

The Bible gives many examples of God using those whom the world disqualifies (1 Corinthians 1:27). I think of Rahab, who believed in God, though her life did not reflect it. Her previous failures did not exclude her from furthering God’s plan when the Israelites came to Jericho. In fact, God honored her by including her in the genealogy of Jesus (Joshua 2:1–22; Matthew 1:5). I think, too, of Peter, who denied he even knew Christ, yet later preached to multitudes who received salvation (Mark 14:66–72; Acts 2:14–41).

I am grateful that God uses individuals despite their doubts, weaknesses, past failures, and troubling circumstances—because I am one of those people.

Chaos surrounding the alcohol abuse grew worse, and I often felt shaken and alone. Occasionally, I caught myself thinking of unhealthy ways to regain a sense of belonging or simply to cope, but I clung to scripture that reminded me of who I was.

God’s Word says I am chosen (John 15:16), and He delights in me (Psalm 18:19). I am His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10), and He has designed me to live abundantly in His might (John 10:10; Ephesians 3:20). I chose to believe God’s Word over my most negative thoughts and compelling feelings.

God knows how easy it is for us to mess up our lives, but that doesn’t keep Him from taking our past, present, and future sins and giving us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). He makes us right with Him through the cross.

He takes our worries, flaws, and fears as well, and exchanges them for His redeeming purposes. We may not have this purpose all figured out, but He does. That’s why staying close to Him is crucial.

In God’s strength, I continued to work with youth in various capacities. The inner strength and peace that gradually developed anchored me in a sense of worth that could never be attained on my own or given by another. I learned that my worth is not dependent on how others value me. It is constant because of what Christ has done for me.

When you know Christ as your Savior, your worth is constant too. No matter who you are or what you’ve done, God still pursues you and wants to use you. Your actions have not disqualified you from His love and forgiveness. His death and resurrection long ago settled the debt incurred by your sin.

By receiving His sacrifice as your very own, you become fully pleasing and accepted by God. Then, even in the messiness, He qualifies you to share this great hope with others.

JANICE MARIE MEIDEL is a wife, mother, grandmother, and children’s book author. She has worked with Youth for Christ in mentoring teen girls. She is currently a contributing writer for various magazines and seeks to encourage others through God’s Word.