My Shameful Stone: Finding Purpose in the Flaws We Hide
By Michael Wood
We all have that one thing. The flaw we wrestle with in the dark, the struggle we’ve prayed would just disappear, or the memory that makes us want to turn away from God’s gaze.
We often view these parts of ourselves as "baggage" or "waste." But what if our greatest strength is currently disguised as our greatest weakness? What if the very thing you are trying to hide is a gift from God that simply got twisted along the way?
The Stone of Rejection
Think of your struggle as a stone, an object in your life that has kept you paralyzed or immobile. In Psalms, we read about "The stone that the builders rejected."
What is your stone?
For some, it is fear. Fear of people, fear of consequences, or the paralyzing dread of abandonment. For others, it’s the protection of a wound. You’ve held onto a specific pain for so long that it has become your identity. You worry that if you let go of the hurt, you’ll lose the person, or the version of yourself, connected to it.
Perhaps your stone is misplaced trust. You’ve built massive walls because you no longer trust your own instincts, let alone anyone else’s. Or maybe it’s shame. You believe that if God truly saw your thoughts and actions, He would walk away. You’re convinced that when He looks at you, He doesn't see His child; He only sees that thing.
Is it a Weight or a Weapon?
When the enemy sees a crack in our foundation, he doesn't just sit there; he distorts the truth. He takes the gifts God placed in us and hijacks them. He convinces us that our struggles define us when in reality, they could be the very things God wants to use for His glory.
Consider the shift in perspective:
The fear that paralyzes you can be redeemed into the courage that strengthens you.
The rejection you’ve faced can be the source of the empathy you need to love others deeply.
The story doesn't end with the stone being tossed aside. As Psalm 118:22 and Mark 12:10 tell us:
"The stone the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone."
What everyone once thought was useless has become the most important piece of the building.
David and the Overlooked Stone
In 1 Samuel 17, a young shepherd named David stepped onto a battlefield. He didn’t fit into Saul’s armor. He was too small, too inexperienced, and completely dismissed by the "experts" of war.
David didn’t fight Goliath with a sword, shield, and armor. He fought with a simple stone.
Two things were overlooked that day:
The courage of David
And the purpose of the stone.
If a teenage shepherd could look at a seemingly insignificant stone, one that had been stepped on and washed over, and see its hidden power, how much more can God look at our flaws and reveal them as our greatest strengths?
What If?
What if the weakness you despise is actually the weapon God has placed in your hands?
The fear you struggle with is meant to build your faith.
The rejection you've experienced is preparing you to show unconditional love.
The wounds you've carried are shaping you into a conduit of healing.
The stone you once saw as your greatest shame may just become your most powerful story.
A Prayer of Surrender
If you are carrying a "shameful stone" today, I invite you to pray this with me:
God, I lay my weakness and my struggles at Your feet. In my attempt to be a "holy servant," I have tried to hide these things, but today I lay them down in surrender. I acknowledge that I cannot do this on my own. I ask that You take my offering, my brokenness, and my shameful stone. Amen
Does this message resonate with a 'stone' you’ve been carrying? Consider sharing this with someone who needs to know their weakness isn't the end of their story.
