A week ago Sunday was a “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.” I can count on one hand the number of times my husband and I have had a significant fight with raised voices, (ok, yelling on my part) tears and hurt feelings. We increased the number by one that day. It was 99% my fault because I expected my husband to read my mind and understand what I was thinking and feeling. But if I can’t even understand what I’m thinking and feeling, how in the world is he supposed to? I had let some emotions and issues stew for too long and when the proverbial straw that broke the camels back landed on mine, I had a melt down. It was not a pretty sight.

When it was over I felt like the biggest loser in the entire world. The biggest failure. The world’s worst Jesus follower. How could I have possibly acted like that, especially to someone so dear to me? I was pretty sure my husband hated me and that God hated me, or at least my actions and attitudes.

My hubby and I reconciled after I had calmed down. I asked forgiveness. He forgave me.

Yet, I was still having trouble forgiving myself and wondering what my heavenly Father thought of the whole thing. How could He ever possibly use someone so messed up and broken as me to share His love? Why would He want to?

Then He showed me the most incredible thing…his unconditional love. My husband chose to love me despite my failings. He chose to forgive me. He held me tight, let me cry and told me he loved me anyway. God did the exact same thing. My Father showed me his unconditional love through the love of my husband. He took a horrible fight and brought good out of it by teaching me a valuable lesson: He loves me despite what I do.

God uses the broken, the “least of these,” those who don’t deserve it, those who know they can’t do it alone. Thank goodness.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) says, But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I am so grateful God’s power is made perfect in weakness because I am definitely weak. God can take the most horrible moments and bring good out of them. Romans 8:28 (NIV) says, “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.” He works in ALL things, not just the good. God doesn’t cause the bad stuff to happen, but He will use it to bring good, even when it seems impossible.

What about you, my friend? Are you feeling broken, unusable, unlovable? Please know that regardless of what you may have done, or what you haven’t done, God still loves you…unconditionally. We are not capable of doing anything to make God love us more. We are not capable of doing anything to make God love us less. He loves us just because He chose to do so. Because He is God.

(Quote from the book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day By Judith Viorst)