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The young man was beaten down. Broken. After a childhood filled with every conceivable type of abuse, he found himself trying to survive on the street along with another group of people with addictions.

But the Lord had a plan for this young man.

One day, he hesitantly entered the doors of a local church. Because of his smelly, grubby appearance, no one greeted him with a handshake or even a smile. The eyes of the people either stared or quickly looked away.

Week after week he returned, even though the people ignored him or treated him with contempt. Most labeled him as damaged goods, too far gone to be redeemed.

Finally, one of the older men in the church reached out. He took an interest in the young man and showed him compassion and the love of Jesus. He said, “Son, your past doesn’t matter to the Lord. He looks beyond your faults and failures and only sees your future, the one He has planned for you.”

Thankfully, God can take the broken pieces of our lives and put them together to form something unique and beautiful. He sees our potential and all He created us to be. And nothing, absolutely nothing, is impossible with Him.

This young man—because of one person’s influence—became a powerful force for the kingdom of God, using his past to show others a better way to live.

Remember ... in God’s eyes, there is no such thing as damaged goods.