If you’ve ever found yourself praying, “God, use me,” then I hate to tell you, but I don’t think He will do that. I don’t think God uses us at all.
Think about if for a moment — have you ever felt “used” by another person? Maybe a co-worker lets you do all the work on projects, then enjoys the credit right along with you. Or maybe you had a car in college and your friends “used” you for transportation. In my work with the jail ministry, I have been used for groceries, help with apartment deposits and car repairs, and rides to appointments.
Maybe you’ve even reached a point in a situation where you have had all you can take. You simply couldn’t take any more and put a stop to another person taking advantage of you and walking all over you. You refused to be used anymore.
When you think back on times you have been used, is it a pleasant memory? Does it make you feel all warm and fuzzy toward the person or people who used you? Probably not. It’s even possible that the relationship was irreparably damaged by the inconsideration of the other person.
Does that sound like something God would do to us? Would He use us, take advantage of us, and leave us feeling like we had been taken to the cleaners? That doesn’t sound like the loving God I know and follow.
God Lets Us Help
When I was a little girl, I loved to help my mom cook or bake. In fact, I probably wasn’t helping her much at all. I am sure I slowed her down, made mistakes she had to fix, made messes she had to deal with, and asked so many questions I probably drove her a little nuts. I remember one time when we were making a chocolate cake, she assigned me the task of reading the recipe and measuring out the ingredients for the icing.
“We don’t have enough cocoa,” I announced to her.
“What do you mean?” she replied. “That container was almost full!”
“Well,” I explained, “there wasn’t a full three cups here.”
“Stacy, it’s three tablespoons,” she patiently explained.
It made perfect sense to me that chocolate icing would have a lot of chocolate in it, but had she not caught me, that icing would have been inedible. Still, she had to help me try to sift the excess cocoa from the mixing bowl. There is no doubt she could have done a better, more efficient job without me. She didn’t need me, but she always let me help. By allowing me to be a part of the process, I learned, enjoyed the time with my mother, and felt like I had made a valuable contribution. She let me help because of her love for me.
I think that’s how it is with God. He doesn’t need us in order to accomplish His plans, but He allows us to be a part of the process. It’s an incredible privilege, to be involved in bringing about God’s will in our own lives and the lives of others. Even though we make mistakes, create messes, and slow things down with our clumsiness, He still lets us help if we are willing. In working with Him, we learn, enjoy the time with our Father, and feel like we make a valuable contribution. He lets us help because of His love for us.
So next time, instead of praying, “God, use me,” try, “God, please let me be a part of your plan.”
Amen.