There once was a farmer who had two buckets. He used those buckets to bring water home every day. One of the buckets had a crack and leaked continuously. The other was perfect and never spilled a drop. As time passed the cracked bucket became sad about the leaked water...He decided to speak with the farmer. Upon learning that he was sad the farmer asked the bucket to join him on a walk. They walked down the same path as always...but this time the farmer pointed out all of the wonderful life that had sprung up around them. He explained to the bucket that he was responsible for all of this beauty...If he hadn't leaked water every day the plants would never have grown. The bucket realized that, despite his flaws...he still helped those around him grow. Even when he wasn't aware of it.
All through the Bible we see that God uses broken people to achieve great things. You have heard that before and you probably know it - in your brain. But sometimes we have to move it 12 inches to our heart and believe it! No doubt, we believe it for those people in the Bible but not for us! God doesn't use perfect people because there are not any!
God didn't use the righteous and religious in the Bible. He used flawed, broken people. He used a King who had committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband killed. He used a Hebrew with a speech impediment. He used a prostitute. He used a tax collector and the list goes on! And He didn't just use them - He CHOSE them! He can use you and I!
He puts our broken pieces back together and helps us use those things to reach others. I think of Romans 8: 28, "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."