Flourishing Despite Your Background
"But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'" – 1 Samuel 16:7
Tucked away in the book of Judges is a man named Shamgar. His story is short, but powerful. Judges 3:31 tells us he was one of Israel’s judges, a leader God raised up to deliver His people. What is striking is not just what he did, but who he was. His name wasn’t Hebrew, which meant he likely came from outside Israel’s most respected circles.
His father’s name, Anath, was tied to a pagan god, and there is no mention of him belonging to one of Israel’s prominent tribes. By the standards of the day, Shamgar did not have the “right” heritage, the “right” family, or the “right” resume.
Yet God chose him. Shamgar stepped into his calling, defended Israel, and went down in history because he was faithful with what God gave him. He could have spent his life feeling disqualified because of his background. He could have assumed that without the right connections or a perfect past, he could never make a difference. But instead, he trusted God and acted.
You might feel like your upbringing, education, or family history puts you at a disadvantage. Maybe you have been told you don’t have what it takes. But Shamgar’s life reminds us that God is not limited by where you start. Your background is not a barrier to Him. God looks at the heart and at your willingness to follow Him where you are.
The question is not whether you have the “perfect” start, but whether you will be faithful with the opportunity God has placed in front of you today. If you trust Him, He can take what the world considers ordinary and make it extraordinary.
Your past doesn’t define your future. God does. And with Him, you can flourish no matter where you began.
Tucked away in the book of Judges is a man named Shamgar. His story is short, but powerful. Judges 3:31 tells us he was one of Israel’s judges, a leader God raised up to deliver His people. What is striking is not just what he did, but who he was. His name wasn’t Hebrew, which meant he likely came from outside Israel’s most respected circles.
His father’s name, Anath, was tied to a pagan god, and there is no mention of him belonging to one of Israel’s prominent tribes. By the standards of the day, Shamgar did not have the “right” heritage, the “right” family, or the “right” resume.
Yet God chose him. Shamgar stepped into his calling, defended Israel, and went down in history because he was faithful with what God gave him. He could have spent his life feeling disqualified because of his background. He could have assumed that without the right connections or a perfect past, he could never make a difference. But instead, he trusted God and acted.
You might feel like your upbringing, education, or family history puts you at a disadvantage. Maybe you have been told you don’t have what it takes. But Shamgar’s life reminds us that God is not limited by where you start. Your background is not a barrier to Him. God looks at the heart and at your willingness to follow Him where you are.
The question is not whether you have the “perfect” start, but whether you will be faithful with the opportunity God has placed in front of you today. If you trust Him, He can take what the world considers ordinary and make it extraordinary.
Your past doesn’t define your future. God does. And with Him, you can flourish no matter where you began.
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4 Comments
I used to wonder how on earth anyone would want to date me after being in rehab three different times, but that was the wrong question to ask. The right question to ask was "how can God use this in my life to help others?" and let me tell you that question has been answered plenty of times in my life. Despite how messy my past has been, God has used it to help others in similar situations realize that they aren't alone and change IS possible with help and resources. I knew the differences between a faith based rehab facility and a regular one without a faith based foundation. I knew the faith based rehab was where I personally grew the most and had the best success. Each person is looking for something different in recovery but one thing you may not know that you might want/need is a personal relationship with God and a rehab facility that doesn't push that on you but opens the door and allows you to explore it at your own pace is amazing and refreshing. I might not have known that had I only gone once. Maybe I needed the third time at the faith based rehab to know and understand that. "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." Romans 8:28 NIV - I hope that anyone who reads this keeps their head up no matter what they are facing, have faced or are preparing to face and just know that God will use it for His purpose.
God bless you! Thanks for sharing.
That’s a powerful testimony. Thanks for sharing!
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God bless you! Thanks for sharing.
The word that I needed to hear I have been putting and pushing something God has placed on mu heart thinking/feeling Im not qualified. Thank you for reminding me that qualifications doesn't come from the world but from God