Feeling Unworthy? God Still Has a Plan for You

My story of redemption and growth

Hi friends! I’m Pastor Chris, and if you’re interested in faith-based encouragement, you’ve come to the right place. By subscribing, you’ll never miss a single empowering message. If you’re already on the list, consider supporting my work with a paid subscription or a one-time gift.

Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

I grew up without a father. He left before I was born, and even though I never knew him, his absence was something I felt every single day. I couldn’t help but wonder:

• Why did he leave?

• Didn’t he want me?

• Wasn’t I worth staying for?

I didn’t have the answers, but I did have the questions. I carried them with me like a weight, especially when I was around other kids who had both parents. Sitting in church, I’d watch dads with their kids—helping them with their Bibles, putting an arm around them, whispering little jokes during the sermon. I longed for that kind of connection. I wanted a father to look up to, to teach me how to be a man, to tell me that I mattered.

My mom did her best to fill the gap. She is a strong woman, and despite her own struggles, she made sure we were in church. She taught me about Jesus, about faith, and about the importance of being in a community of believers.

Even though our home wasn’t perfect, my mom’s faith gave me my first glimpse of God’s love. At the age of 5, sitting in a Kid’s Church service, I gave my life to Jesus. I was drawn to the kindness of the couple leading the group—something about their lifestyle made me want what they had. So when they gave the altar call, I raised my little hand and walked down front.

And then I did it again. And again.

I must have gone forward a dozen times over the next couple of years, just to be sure it was real. Looking back, I smile because I see now that God was already planting seeds of faith in my heart—seeds that would carry me through the hardest seasons of my life.

When I was 5, my mom married, and for the first time, I had a father figure in my life. I was excited. I thought, "This is it. This is the family I’ve been waiting for." I had this picture in my mind of what it would be like, but reality turned out to be very different.

At first, things seemed okay. But over time, my stepfather’s destructive behavior turned our home into a place of fear and instability. I remember being woken up by shouting, lying in bed, and wondering if it was my fault. I remember seeing my mom leave the house in tears. I remember the night he was arrested after assaulting her.

It’s hard to explain what that does to a kid. I was just a boy, but I carried the weight of those nights like a man. I felt responsible, even though I didn’t have the power to change anything.

One of the bravest things my mom ever did was tell him to leave. By the time I was 11, she was separated from him, and by 13, they were divorced. Once again, I was left without a father, only this time, I had younger siblings who looked up to me.

Without being asked, I stepped into the role of “man of the house.” It was too much for a boy to carry. But I carried it anyway.

When I was 15, something changed. I began serving in the church. I helped in the Children’s Ministry, served on the Worship Team, and even worked at the coffee stand. It was a time of growth and change for me. It was the first time I saw the church not just as a place I attended but as a place where I belonged.

Serving gave me purpose. It allowed me to be part of something bigger than myself. As I invested my time in the church, God began to shape my heart for ministry.

By the time I was 18, I was hired as the Interim Elementary Director. It was an exciting time—a season of growth during which I was given leadership responsibilities. But it was also eye-opening. I got a firsthand look at what it was like to be on staff at a church—the highs, the lows, and the difficult decisions that had long-range consequences.

Through this experience, I learned something important: Ministry is both beautiful and messy.

After about six or seven years of serving and waiting for God to bring an opportunity to step into something greater, I began to feel like I had hit a wall. There were moments when I should have been the obvious choice for a leadership role, but for reasons beyond my control, leadership went in a different direction.

During this time, God revealed something to me: I didn’t fully believe what the church believed, or at least what they allowed. I had missed any chance for advancement. That realization was hard, but it was also freeing.

Sometimes, God closes doors not to punish us, but to redirect us to something better.

In 2009, I married the most amazing woman. We then entered full-time ministry together, serving side by side. It was an exciting season, but it was also exhausting. Ministry consumed our lives, and we poured everything into it.

When the time came to move on, we realized that we didn’t have a life outside of the church. We felt very alone.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: Ministry is a calling, but it should never be your identity. If you build your entire life around your role, you’ll feel lost when that season ends.

In 2013, God brought us to a small church, and I became the Worship Director. This was a fresh start that gave us a chance to serve a community that needed leadership.

Then, in 2015, God connected us with a church plant, and I had the experience of starting something from scratch. There’s something powerful about stepping into a space where nothing exists yet and trusting God to build something out of it.

And through it all, God continued to provide opportunities for growth. He stretched me, refined me, and showed me that His plans were far greater than my own.

God’s Not Done With You Yet

Looking back, I can see God’s hand in every step of my journey. He took the pain of my father’s absence, the chaos of my home life, and the struggles of ministry, and He turned them into a testimony of His faithfulness.

And now, I have a heart for men who feel broken, inadequate, or unworthy. Because I know what it feels like to be stuck in that place.

But here’s the truth: God isn’t done with you yet.

If there’s one man in scripture whose life proves this statement to be unequivocally true, it’s Peter—the bold, impulsive, and often unpredictable disciple of Jesus.

If ever there was a man who had every reason to believe he had messed up too badly to be used by God, it was Peter.

Peter was a simple fisherman. He wasn’t a religious scholar or a man of influence. He was just an ordinary guy casting his nets when Jesus stepped into his life and changed everything.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.”
(Matthew 4:19-20)

Then Peter left everything—his business, his livelihood, his family—to follow a man he had just met. But Peter did it. For the next three years, he walked closely with Jesus, witnessing miracles, hearing His teachings, and even participating in intimate moments when Jesus revealed His glory.

Peter was passionate and all-in. He boldly declared, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).

He was the one who stepped out of the boat and walked on water when Jesus called him (Matthew 14:28-29).

He was a leader among the disciples, but his passion and zeal weren’t enough. Peter had some hard lessons ahead.

As much as Peter loved Jesus, he overestimated his own strength. When Jesus told the disciples that they would all fall away, Peter refused to accept it.

“Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” (Matthew 26:33)

Jesus, knowing Peter better than Peter knew himself, responded:

“Truly I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” (Matthew 26:34)

Peter was adamant. He insisted, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you” (Matthew 26:35).

But when the moment came—when Jesus was arrested and fear set in—Peter’s courage crumbled.

In the courtyard of the high priest, as Jesus was being falsely accused and beaten, Peter was confronted three times.

And three times, he denied even knowing Jesus.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” (Matthew 26:70)
“I don’t know the man!” (Matthew 26:72)
“I swear to you, I don’t know the man!” (Matthew 26:74)

Then the rooster crowed.

Peter realized what he had done, and Scripture tells us:

“He went outside and wept bitterly.” (Matthew 26:75)

At that moment, Peter must have felt like his story was over. He had walked with Jesus for three years. He had seen miracles. He had even sworn to stand by Jesus no matter what. But when it counted most, he failed.

Have you ever felt like that? Like you messed up too badly for God to use you?

If Peter’s story ended here, he would have been nothing more than a tragic figure—a man who had potential but ultimately failed.

But God wasn’t done with him yet.

After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter returned to what he knew—fishing. Maybe he thought that was all he was good for now. Maybe he believed he had thrown away his calling.

But Jesus came looking for him.

In John 21, we find one of the most beautiful moments in Scripture. After His resurrection, Jesus appears to the disciples by the Sea of Galilee. They had been fishing all night but had caught nothing. Then, just as He had done when He first called Peter, Jesus told them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat. And just like before, the nets fill with fish.

Peter immediately recognized Him. He jumped into the water and swam to shore. Despite all his shame, Peter still longed to be near Jesus.

And what does Jesus do? Does He rebuke Peter for his failure? Does He remind him of how he denied Him?

No.

Jesus meets Peter with grace and restoration.

As they sit around a fire, Jesus asks Peter three times:

“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Three times, Peter answers:

“Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

And three times Jesus responds:

“Feed my sheep.”

Three denials. Three affirmations of love. Three commissions back into ministry.

Jesus wasn’t done with Peter. His failure wasn’t the end of the story—it was the beginning of a new chapter.

After this moment of restoration, Peter became a powerhouse for the Gospel.

• In Acts 2, Peter stands up on the day of Pentecost and preaches a sermon that brings 3,000 people to faith in Jesus.

• He became the leader of the early church, boldly proclaiming the Gospel, healing the sick, and refusing to back down even when faced with persecution.

• The same man who once denied Jesus out of fear now willingly faces imprisonment, beatings, and eventually death for his faith.

What changed?

Peter finally understood grace.

He realized that his calling was never about his own strength or perfection—it was about Jesus. And once he fully grasped that truth, nothing could stop him.

Peter’s life proves that God isn’t done with you yet.

• You may have failed, but failure isn’t final.

• You may have fallen, but God is still reaching for you.

• You may feel unworthy, but Jesus is calling you back to Himself.

If Jesus could restore Peter—the man who denied Him three times in His darkest hour—then He can restore you, too.

Maybe today, you feel like your mistakes have defined you. Maybe you’ve convinced yourself that you’ve gone too far, messed up too much, or disqualified yourself from God’s calling.

But here’s what I want you to know: Your story isn’t over.

If you’re still breathing, God is still working. He’s not done with you yet, and just like Peter, He’s calling you back.

God doesn’t waste a single moment of your story. He uses everything—good and bad—to prepare you for the purpose He’s called you to.

So, if you’re in a tough season right now—if you feel like you’re stuck in the middle of a story that doesn’t make sense—I want you to hear this: God is still writing.

Don’t give up. Don’t lose hope. Keep trusting, keep surrendering, and watch as He takes your broken pieces and turns them into something more beautiful than you ever imagined.

He’s not done with you yet.