A young woman inherited an old, cracked mirror from her grandmother. She was disappointed at first – who would want a mirror with so many flaws? The cracks ran across its surface, distorting the reflection.
One evening, as the sun set, she lit a candle in the room. To her surprise, the broken mirror caught the light in a beautiful way. The cracks, which once seemed like imperfections, now reflected the candlelight in multiple directions, filling the room with a warm, glowing radiance.
She realized something profound – though the mirror was broken, it still reflected the light. In fact, the very cracks that seemed like weaknesses allowed the light to shine in ways a perfect mirror never could.
In the same way, God uses imperfect people for His glory. Many of us feel like that cracked mirror – flawed, broken, unworthy. We see our weaknesses, past mistakes, and struggles, and we wonder if God can use us at all. But the Bible tells us that God delights in using broken people for His purposes.
2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
Like fragile clay jars or cracked mirrors, we are weak in ourselves. But it is precisely through our weaknesses that God’s power shines brightest.
Moses doubted his ability to speak, yet God used him to lead Israel (Exodus 4:10). Peter denied Jesus three times, but he later became a bold preacher of the gospel (Luke 22:61-62, Acts 2:14). Paul had a painful “thorn in the flesh,” yet he declared:
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.”
We often believe we need to be perfect to be useful to God. But He is not looking for perfection – He is looking for willing hearts. The very cracks and imperfections in our lives allow His light to shine in ways we may not even realise.
Are you feeling broken, unworthy, or inadequate? Remember the cracked mirror. It may not be flawless, but it still reflects the light.
In the same way, God can use you – not despite your brokenness, but because of it. Let His light shine through your imperfections and watch how He uses you to brighten the world around you.