A carpenter was working on a new project when he reached into his toolbox for a nail. He picked one up but noticed it was bent. At first, he thought about throwing it away. But instead, he placed it on the workbench, took a hammer, and carefully straightened it. Then he used it to fasten a strong wooden beam.

That nail, though once bent and considered useless, became part of something important. It helped hold the structure together, proving that even damaged things can still be useful.

Many people feel like that bent nail – worn out, broken by life’s hardships, or convinced they are no longer useful because of past mistakes. But God does not throw people away. Instead, He restores, redeems, and gives us new purpose.

David, despite his failures, wrote:

Psalm 34:18  “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” 

No matter how broken we feel, God is near. He is the Master Carpenter who knows how to take our bent and damaged lives and make them useful for His kingdom.

The Bible is filled with people who were “bent” in some way:

• Moses was a murderer, yet God used him to lead Israel (Exodus 3:10).
• Rahab had a sinful past, but she became part of Jesus’ lineage (Matthew 1:5).
• Peter denied Jesus three times, yet God used him to build the church (Matthew 16:18).

Paul reminds us:

2 Corinthians 12:9  “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

If you feel bent, broken, or unworthy, remember this: The carpenter did not throw the nail away – he straightened it and used it.

God is not finished with you. No matter what you’ve been through, He can redeem your story and use you for His glory.

You may feel like a bent nail – damaged, unworthy, or past your prime. But in the hands of the Master Carpenter, you still have a purpose.

Let God restore you. Let Him shape you. Because He is not done using you yet.