Are you weak enough for God to use you?

Let me share a story about what I learned the day I had no choice but to preach with nothing more than a whisper.

It had never happened before—or since—but a few years ago, I had to cancel a preaching engagement because I completely lost my voice!

The day before, I had been speaking at a Youth Leaders training event, all while battling a sore throat and persistent cough. By evening, my voice was little more than a whisper—and it hadn’t improved when I woke up on Sunday morning after a restless night.

That morning, I was scheduled to be interviewed at a church about how God had brought me through the toughest and most painful time of my life.

I exchanged text messages with the church leader to explain my lack of voice. He suggested that, if I was still willing, we would hope and pray I could whisper my way through the interview, aided by a really good microphone.

As the service began and worship started, I felt a wave of dread. I didn’t even attempt to sing—I had no voice. I mimed along as enthusiastically as I could, all the while worrying someone at the back would soon shout, “I can’t hear him—what’s he saying?!”

As the service continued, I shot up this arrow prayer to Heaven:

“God, I’m weak. I’m tired.
I’ve got no voice—just a whisper.
And I’m about to share what I’ve learned from the hardest season of my life.
This feels really important.
I’d love not just to ‘get through it’—but to see You move in power to bring encouragement and hope through my story."

What followed was one of the most beautiful, vulnerable, and sacred moments I’ve ever experienced while speaking.

As I whispered the story of how God held me in the fiercest storm of my life, the whole room leaned in—physically, emotionally, and maybe even spiritually. It was deeply moving. At times, my whispering voice broke with unexpected tears.

The experience reminded me of these powerful words from the Apostle Paul, written as he cried out to God about his own struggles—only to hear God gently whisper back:

“My grace is enough for you.
When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you.”
So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses.
Then Christ’s power can live in me.
— 2 Corinthians 12:9

It's true!
God’s grace is sufficient.
And yes, His power is perfected in our weakness.

I’ve experienced that again and again. God is never looking for how strong I am—He’s interested in how weak I’m willing to be. Because when I come to Him in weakness, I give Him space to move and be strong. But when I think I’m strong enough on my own, I risk not turning to Him at all.

Someone once said, “God sends no one away empty, except those who are already full of themselves.”

Let’s come to Him empty—ready to be filled with His all-consuming love and power.

Are you weak enough for God to use you today?

Cheering and praying for you as you press on,