God Uses the Unlikely
God Uses the Unlikely: Finding Hope in a Messy Family Tree
Have you ever felt like you weren't the right person for what God was calling you to do? Like you were too flawed, too ordinary, too broken, or simply not enough?
You're not alone.
Many of us wrestle with intrusive thoughts that whisper lies about our worthiness. We convince ourselves that God only uses perfect people—the ones who have it all together, who never mess up, who look like they stepped straight out of a faith-filled Instagram feed. Meanwhile, we look at ourselves and think, "There's no way God could use someone like me."
But here's a question worth pondering: If God only uses perfect people, how does He get anything done?
A Family Tree Full of Surprises
The Christmas story we celebrate each year doesn't actually begin with shepherds and angels. It doesn't even start with a pregnant Mary standing beside a manger. The story begins with something far less glamorous—a family list. A genealogy. A long, complicated roster of names that most of us are tempted to skip over when we open our Bibles to Matthew chapter one.
Yet this genealogy is anything but boring. It's a masterpiece of grace.
Matthew, in his literary genius, opens his gospel account with a family tree that runs from Abraham through David all the way to Jesus. And woven throughout this lineage are some of the most unlikely, imperfect, and downright messy people you could imagine.
There's Abraham, who doubted God's promises. Jacob, the deceiver and trickster. Tamar, whose story is heartbreaking and complicated. Rahab, a foreigner with a checkered past. Ruth, an outsider who wasn't even from Israel. And then there's David—yes, the great king—but also the man who committed adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrated the murder of her husband.
The list continues through generations of kings who were hot and cold in their faithfulness, some wicked, some good, but none perfect. And it culminates with Joseph, a simple carpenter, and Mary, a young woman from Nazareth.
This is Jesus' family tree.
When God Includes What We Would Hide
If you or I were writing Jesus' family story, we'd probably want to clean it up. We'd highlight the heroes and downplay the failures. We'd edit out the embarrassing parts and present a polished, respectable lineage worthy of the Messiah.
But God doesn't work that way.
Matthew, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, includes the drama. He includes the failure. He includes the brokenness. Even the parts of the story that would make us uncomfortable are right there in black and white.
Why? Because God heals what He includes. He redeems the pain. His blood erases the sin.
The truth is powerful: sin couldn't stop God's plan. Exile couldn't stop God's plan. Bad kings couldn't stop God's plan. Not then, and not now.
Jesus' family line runs straight back to Abraham and David because God made covenants with both men—promises that didn't depend on their moods or moral streaks, but on His own unchanging character. God told Abraham he would become a great nation and that the whole world would be blessed through him. God told David that he would have a son whose throne would never crumble.
And in Jesus, both promises came true.
The Message for You and Me
This messy genealogy carries a profound message for every one of us, no matter our age or station in life.
**For children and young people:** You don't have to wait until you're older for God to use you. Your age isn't a disqualification—it's an opportunity. You can make a difference right now in your family, your school, and even around the world.
**For young adults and students:** Your past doesn't define your future. The mistakes you've made don't determine what God can do with you. There is no sin too great for God's redemption when you lay it at His feet.
**For those in the middle seasons of life:** You haven't messed up too much for God to use you. Whatever you're carrying—regret, shame, failure—God is in the business of transforming broken stories into testimonies of His faithfulness.
**For those in later seasons:** Your story isn't over. You have a responsibility and privilege to invest in the next generation, to share the wisdom you've gained through a lifetime of following Jesus.
A Living Genealogy
The beautiful truth is that Jesus' genealogy doesn't actually end with Him. When we enter into relationship with Christ, when we're saved and welcomed into God's family, we become adopted children with full rights as heirs and co-heirs. We become part of this family tree.
Our responsibility now is to carry on the work that Jesus started while He was on earth, until He comes back to set the world right. We are the continuation of Jesus' story in our homes, schools, workplaces, and communities.
Imagine what God could do through a church full of ordinary people—shy kids, exhausted parents, recovering addicts, students with doubts, seniors who think their best days are behind them. Ordinary people with ordinary lives who simply say yes to God.
We become a living genealogy when we believe that God uses the unlikely.
Where Brokenness Becomes Beauty
When we embrace this truth, we become a community where shame doesn't win, where regret doesn't get the last word, where outsiders become family, where brokenness becomes a testimony of God's faithfulness, and where imperfection becomes a platform for grace.
Jesus came from a messy family for messy people—people just like us.
As we enter this Advent season, preparing our hearts to celebrate the birth of our Savior, let this truth sink deep: God didn't choose a perfect family for Jesus. He chose a real one. Because that's how God works.
He uses the unlikely. He uses the overlooked. He uses the broken. He uses the willing and the humble.
Your life, whatever it has looked like or will look like, can still shine because God delights in using ordinary, imperfect people to accomplish extraordinary things.
The messy family tree gives us a perfect Savior. And He's still choosing unlikely people today.
That includes you.
Have you ever felt like you weren't the right person for what God was calling you to do? Like you were too flawed, too ordinary, too broken, or simply not enough?
You're not alone.
Many of us wrestle with intrusive thoughts that whisper lies about our worthiness. We convince ourselves that God only uses perfect people—the ones who have it all together, who never mess up, who look like they stepped straight out of a faith-filled Instagram feed. Meanwhile, we look at ourselves and think, "There's no way God could use someone like me."
But here's a question worth pondering: If God only uses perfect people, how does He get anything done?
A Family Tree Full of Surprises
The Christmas story we celebrate each year doesn't actually begin with shepherds and angels. It doesn't even start with a pregnant Mary standing beside a manger. The story begins with something far less glamorous—a family list. A genealogy. A long, complicated roster of names that most of us are tempted to skip over when we open our Bibles to Matthew chapter one.
Yet this genealogy is anything but boring. It's a masterpiece of grace.
Matthew, in his literary genius, opens his gospel account with a family tree that runs from Abraham through David all the way to Jesus. And woven throughout this lineage are some of the most unlikely, imperfect, and downright messy people you could imagine.
There's Abraham, who doubted God's promises. Jacob, the deceiver and trickster. Tamar, whose story is heartbreaking and complicated. Rahab, a foreigner with a checkered past. Ruth, an outsider who wasn't even from Israel. And then there's David—yes, the great king—but also the man who committed adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrated the murder of her husband.
The list continues through generations of kings who were hot and cold in their faithfulness, some wicked, some good, but none perfect. And it culminates with Joseph, a simple carpenter, and Mary, a young woman from Nazareth.
This is Jesus' family tree.
When God Includes What We Would Hide
If you or I were writing Jesus' family story, we'd probably want to clean it up. We'd highlight the heroes and downplay the failures. We'd edit out the embarrassing parts and present a polished, respectable lineage worthy of the Messiah.
But God doesn't work that way.
Matthew, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, includes the drama. He includes the failure. He includes the brokenness. Even the parts of the story that would make us uncomfortable are right there in black and white.
Why? Because God heals what He includes. He redeems the pain. His blood erases the sin.
The truth is powerful: sin couldn't stop God's plan. Exile couldn't stop God's plan. Bad kings couldn't stop God's plan. Not then, and not now.
Jesus' family line runs straight back to Abraham and David because God made covenants with both men—promises that didn't depend on their moods or moral streaks, but on His own unchanging character. God told Abraham he would become a great nation and that the whole world would be blessed through him. God told David that he would have a son whose throne would never crumble.
And in Jesus, both promises came true.
The Message for You and Me
This messy genealogy carries a profound message for every one of us, no matter our age or station in life.
**For children and young people:** You don't have to wait until you're older for God to use you. Your age isn't a disqualification—it's an opportunity. You can make a difference right now in your family, your school, and even around the world.
**For young adults and students:** Your past doesn't define your future. The mistakes you've made don't determine what God can do with you. There is no sin too great for God's redemption when you lay it at His feet.
**For those in the middle seasons of life:** You haven't messed up too much for God to use you. Whatever you're carrying—regret, shame, failure—God is in the business of transforming broken stories into testimonies of His faithfulness.
**For those in later seasons:** Your story isn't over. You have a responsibility and privilege to invest in the next generation, to share the wisdom you've gained through a lifetime of following Jesus.
A Living Genealogy
The beautiful truth is that Jesus' genealogy doesn't actually end with Him. When we enter into relationship with Christ, when we're saved and welcomed into God's family, we become adopted children with full rights as heirs and co-heirs. We become part of this family tree.
Our responsibility now is to carry on the work that Jesus started while He was on earth, until He comes back to set the world right. We are the continuation of Jesus' story in our homes, schools, workplaces, and communities.
Imagine what God could do through a church full of ordinary people—shy kids, exhausted parents, recovering addicts, students with doubts, seniors who think their best days are behind them. Ordinary people with ordinary lives who simply say yes to God.
We become a living genealogy when we believe that God uses the unlikely.
Where Brokenness Becomes Beauty
When we embrace this truth, we become a community where shame doesn't win, where regret doesn't get the last word, where outsiders become family, where brokenness becomes a testimony of God's faithfulness, and where imperfection becomes a platform for grace.
Jesus came from a messy family for messy people—people just like us.
As we enter this Advent season, preparing our hearts to celebrate the birth of our Savior, let this truth sink deep: God didn't choose a perfect family for Jesus. He chose a real one. Because that's how God works.
He uses the unlikely. He uses the overlooked. He uses the broken. He uses the willing and the humble.
Your life, whatever it has looked like or will look like, can still shine because God delights in using ordinary, imperfect people to accomplish extraordinary things.
The messy family tree gives us a perfect Savior. And He's still choosing unlikely people today.
That includes you.
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