"God Can't Use Me."

I've been a camp counselor out at Manna Resort since I as 13. I've got a lot of years of experience as a counselor and director out there and can say that Manna is the most significant source of impact for my relationship with Christ. Over the years, it has been my most sincere privilege to develop relationships with some incredible young people that have flourished over the years. Throughout the years, I usually receive a handful of messages from those campers seeking advice and/or encouragement, and I thought I would share my response to one of those with you all.

This girl in particular expressed feeling that God was hinting to her that she should apply to be a counselor, but she was telling me that she felt inadequate and like she wouldn't be a 'good Christian counselor." This is part of what I told her:

"Let me tell you how I feel every year when I counsel, and especially when I volunteer to teach and then try and make up a lesson:

"I am such a screw up, who am I to be telling people about God when I'm such a screw up? Who would even listen to me if they REALLY knew me - I'm the LAST person who should be telling anyone about Jesus. People will think I'm a hypocrite. Maybe I should counsel next year....I can clean up my relationship with Jesus and THEN next year I'll be a GOOD counselor."

Sound familiar?

My advice? During my life anytime I've felt like God was nudging me or anything I would do one of two things -
1) Ignore it, tell myself I'm being stupid and making it up.
2) Take a deep breath and jump out in faith that it IS God nudging me and trust that even if I feel scared and inadequate that God will take care of me no matter what.

Anytime I have followed through on those little nudges, GOD HAS BLESSED ME. Sometimes I don't realize it until later, but I urge you that if you feel like God is whispering to you to be a counselor this Summer to apply. I guarantee every counselor comes to Manna feeling inadequate and like a failure - that is Satan trying to keep you away by telling you God can't use you.

Think about the counselors who impact you the most at manna. Why is that? Is it because they were 'perfect Christians?' For me, it was the counselors that were REAL with me. The counselors who were like 'Hey, I'm a screw up. I screw up every day.' And the ones who shared with me those failures and things in their lives that make them feel like that - I have those too. I know about partying and relationships that suck, I've been through the eating disorders, the drugs, the family dysfunction stuff. I'm a messy person.

If you are honest with kids - you don't have to tell them all the dirty details in your life, but admitting to kids how you feel? They can tell you are honest, and they will STILL see Jesus in you.

Kids don't need perfect counselors. They need real people who care about them.

And every year, God has NEVER failed to use me JUST AS I AM.

You'll be amazed what campers will flock to you when you open your heart and are honest.

Love,

Hannah"

This is what I would encourage any of you who are experiencing these nudges to do - whether it's to apply to be a counselor, talk to a friend, examine a relationship you are in, taking a new job, whatever. You might feel like you are jumping blindly, but God never fails to catch you. If you feel inadequate  like you are too much of a failure and a mess for God to use and that if people saw 'the real you' that they would never want anything to do with Christ- that is a lie that Satan is planting in your heart and whispering in your ear. 

God uses all of your circumstances - both the ones you think are good as well as bad. 

You are not what your past has been, or what your current circumstances are - no matter how you feel, you are not worthless.

Interested in experiencing Manna?! It's an awesome place that has camps for the littlest squirts in your households and features Day Camps through High School Seniors who just graduated. Check it out HERE!   http://www.mannaresort.com/wp   OR TWITTER  & FACEBOOK!