Can God Use Me?
How to Overcome Doubt, Insecurity, and Fear
by
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Many children and young people respect and have high expectations for the kinds of people God uses. They hold Bible characters, the men and women of God, and the spiritual movers and shakers of our world today, in high esteem. However, this perception is not restricted to religious achievers only, but also extends to socio-political and other sectors of society.
Generally, we highly esteem people with a status or position of authority and influence. In most cultures, people who have earned or received a prefix or suffix to their names (e.g., Professor, Emeritus, Dr., Engineer, Archbishop, Reverend, etc.) are esteemed to be powerful. The sense of awe and reverence accorded to them, and the towering achievements that accompany the mention of their names, almost gives them a heroic recognition.
The antithesis to this is the inadequacy, incompetence, and frailty most young people sense when they see themselves as an ordinary person and, from afar, view the man or woman God uses as somewhat of an extraordinary being. One may begin to think lowly of themselves and perceive the people God uses to be special super-beings. I believe this feeling becomes the bedrock on which the mind begins to ponder, Can God use me?
Although the accomplishments and notoriety of the people God uses should serve as motivation in an ideal situation, three issues can cause us to drift into self-pity and outright discouragement, not believing we are also candidates for God to use. We may have only a partial understanding of the workings of God in and through them. We may not see the distinction between their humanity and the work of divinity. And sometimes we may fail to fully comprehend and remember that they are still mortals who have achieved extraordinary feats.
The Bible recounts the stories of men who commanded the sea to part into two, commanded fire to come down from heaven, killed wild animals with their bare hands, fed one hundred men with twenty loaves, defeated an army of thousands with a few men, healed the sick, cast out demons, walked on water, and performed many great and supernatural feats.
The powerful achievements of the men and women of God during biblical eras and in our time are so gargantuan that a young mind may sometimes find it hard to believe that the natural things that pertain to them, and every human being, for that matter, also apply to the people God uses. Humorously, these minds sometimes ask what may seem as dumb questions regarding the humanness of the people God uses. Among others, they may ask, “Do they use the washroom every morning as I do?” or, “What type of food do they eat?” Juxtaposing the greatness of the people God uses to the commonness of the young person is almost a supernatural versus natural matchup, and a grave disconnection is created between the two. So, they wonder and question, mostly subconsciously, Can God use me as He uses others?
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About the Book
Doubt, self-pity, insecurity, and discouragement: these rob many young people of the opportunity to give themselves a chance to use their potential. By not venturing to do so, they neglect their purpose or live it half-heartedly, if they dare. Worse than that, many young people never think of themselves as people God can or wants to use. They magnify their weakness, devalue their worth, and give up on hope. To them, their situation is unlike any other and nothing good can be done by them, through them, or with them.
This book shatters that mindset and encourages children and young people to believe that God wants to and does use “ordinary” people to do great things for His purpose. It challenges the reader to shift their focus from their weaknesses and allow God to work in and through them. It references Bible characters whom God used and points to some of their own shortcomings, not in a demeaning manner, but as a way of inspiring hope in the reader. Finally, it gives some biblical pointers and keys to prepare oneself for God’s use.
About the Author
Nana Boadum has a heart for children and young people. Having served faithfully under leadership as a minister for the young adults church of Jesus Generation Ministries (Ghana) for over a decade, he has passionately discipled many young people to discover and embrace their unique purpose and use their gifts to serve their community as excellently as they can to God’s glory.
“Chief,” as many affectionately call him, is full of innovative ideas and encouraging words. He has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Regent-Ghana, an MBA in Corporate Strategy from Maastricht School of Management, a Master’s degree in Information & Telecommunications Systems from Ohio University and is currently a PhD candidate in Instructional Technology at Ohio University. Nana as an education management consultant has pioneered an elementary school in Weija, a suburb of Accra, and launched several STEM-based educational programs for high schools and colleges in Ghana and the United States. He enjoys mentoring children and young adults.
He also likes playing basketball and town riding with his family. Nana is married to Ethel, and they are blessed with children.
Visit www.nanaboadum.org