Hidden Potential
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. –Isaiah 53:1, 2
It’s interesting to watch first-time home buyers on TV. They house hunt with their ideal home in mind, but typically end up with something that is different than what they expected. Many home buyers have difficulty seeing the potential in a property that is outdated. All they see is the rust-colored shag carpeting, harvest gold appliances and paneled walls, but a contractor or designer is able to look past all that and see what the home could be with some time and money invested into it.
I think God looks at us like the contractor or designer. Regardless of how banged up our life is, He knows we have good “bones” and is more than willing to invest some time and love into us to help us become what He intends us to be. Whatever our mistakes, it doesn’t matter; in His eyes we are a good investment! Just as this passage from Isaiah talks about Jesus’ appearance not being anything that, by itself, would attract people, God sometimes places the most precious treasures in the most unexpected packages. He is not limited by outer appearances. He is not limited by a soul that is bruised, a heart that is weak or a mind that is weary. Just like first-time home buyers, we may miss God if we are looking for Him in an ideal, attractive package. He may be trying to make His presence known through someone who doesn’t look the part. This is where developing and strengthening our ability to get our spirit in tune with God’s is so crucial. The Spirit may reveal things to us that our eyes cannot see.
By the same token, maybe you are missing God in yourself because of your past or your insecurities. Perhaps you see yourself through the dirty lens of your mistakes, and you can’t imagine God using you in the ways you would like to be used. Perhaps it seems completely impossible that He would do great things through you, but let me assure you, that thinking does not line up with the stories in Scripture! The God of the Bible is notorious for using the least likely person to do the biggest things for His kingdom. Maybe you are one of those people! If so, the only thing keeping you from fulfilling the incredible destiny He has for you is…well, you! Don’t let doubt and insecurity tell you it’s too late. You are not damaged goods, and our God is the God of the impossible. He alone can take us and turn our mess into an amazing life that touches the lives of others. We only have to yield to Him and trust in His power!