"I believe that God uses everyone."

Looking at this sentence now, I think to myself ‘well of course,' but for the longest time, I didn't really believe this. I didn't really believe that God was using me. Growing up in youth group, I heard so many stories about average people being used by God. We read about Moses, and all the excuses he gave when God first called him. We read about Jonah, who completely ran in the opposite direction of where God wanted him. We talked about David, who was the youngest son and just a lowly shepherd, and yet, he became a King. And Peter, who walked with Jesus and later denied ever knowing Him, and yet, God forgave him. We looked at Paul, who persecuted the Christians before he built churches. All of these people are examples, given by God, of people who didn't have it all together, and yet, God used them in great ways. And when I read about these people, I looked around me and said ‘well of course God uses everyone... look at so and so-God will use them because they're intelligent and bold, and look at him-he's popular, so God will use him as he invites his friends to church, and look at her-she has a great testimony, and God will use that as other people relate to her.' And at the same time, I was being like Moses, making every possible excuse for God not to use me... I didn't have the Bible memorized, I couldn't pray without ceasing, I froze in front of crowds, and I couldn't argue my way out of every theological argument. And I would pray, ‘God make me more like this person, or give me the ability to do this, or change this about me so that you can use me.' What I didn't see was that God was already using me, despite being broken, sinful, and flawed. And, God was teaching me and preparing me for this trip. When I became a believer, I was washed white as snow, and I was made perfect in God's sight. God has shown me that He has a plan for my life, and even if I trail off of that plan, He will still use me, like Jonah. Even if I sin and mess up, which I will, He will forgive me like He forgave Peter. When I am weak, He is strong. God uses every part of me, imperfections and all. I believe God uses everyone.