LENT Day 33

Lent Devotional

Day 33 – Friday, March 27, 2026

"Forgiven and Still Called"

Author: Pastor Christen

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Scripture: Romans 11:29 & Philippians 1:6

Have you ever felt like something in your past disqualified you? Like there’s a chapter of your story that makes you “less than”…Less usable. Less worthy. Less called. Maybe it’s a mistake. A failure. A relationship. A decision you wish you could undo. And somewhere along the way, you started believing: “God can forgive me… but He probably can’t use me.” But that’s not how God works.

Romans 11:29 reminds us: “For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.”

Not rarely. Not if you behave perfectly. Not until you mess up. Never.

I remember walking through a season where I truly believed I had disqualified myself from ministry. I thought my divorce meant the end of my calling. In fact, I tried to push forward into ministry while still in that unhealthy marriage and it didn’t work. I was hired and then let go before I even moved. It was clear I wasn’t in a place where I could help anyone else. And when God finally gave me peace to step away from that marriage, I honestly thought He was asking me to give up my calling too.

But He wasn’t removing my calling He was refining me for it. What I didn’t realize at the time was this: The very thing I thought disqualified me was the thing God would use to deepen me.

Through that season, I learned humility. I learned dependence. I experienced grace in a way I never had before. And now? I don’t just preach about grace I understand it. I’ve lived it. I’ve needed it. And that has made me a better pastor. Because when you’ve been shown grace you can’t help but give it.

Philippians 1:6 says: “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished…”

God isn’t done with you. And He hasn’t changed His mind about you. Your past doesn’t cancel your calling. If anything, surrendered to God it can become part of it. So don’t let shame talk you out of what God has spoken over your life. Follow His leading. Trust His process. And remember:

You are not disqualified. You are being formed.

Prayer

God, thank You that Your calling on my life is not fragile. Thank You that my past doesn’t scare You and my failures don’t disqualify me. Help me to trust Your work in me, even when I don’t understand it. Use every part of my story for Your glory. And give me the courage to follow where You lead. Amen.