Ain’t That A VHIT
By Von C. Howard
There’s a saying I heard not long ago that settled deep into my spirit: “You will never be used greatly until you have been wounded deeply.” At first, it sounded poetic. Yet, the more I replayed it against my own life, the unexpected losses, the disappointments, the moments of confusion, and the seasons I didn’t think I would survive, the more I realized there was truth in those words.
All of us, in one way or another, carry wounds. Some are visible. Most are not. But what unites us is this: every one of us has lived through something that tried to break us… and yet we’re still here. Still standing. Still fighting. Still believing.
And in that survival, there is purpose.
You know what I’ve learned?
The things that broke me also built me.
The moments that hurt me also humbled me.
The situations that confused me also clarified my purpose.
The tears that fell in private watered the strength I needed in public.
What once felt like punishment was actually preparation. Some lessons could only be learned through living.
Hurt taught me humility.
Rejection strengthened
my resilience.
Disappointment refined
my discernment.
Loss expanded my compassion.
Dark seasons deepened my faith.
I know many readers can say the same. Our communities are full of people who have walked through fire: single parents holding families together, elders who paved roads we now walk on, young people fighting battles no one sees, and everyday folks pushing through stress, setbacks, and silent struggles.
Yet somehow, grace carried us. Somehow, God kept us.
The hardest part about deep wounds is that life doesn’t pause for healing. You still have to go to work. You still have responsibilities. You still show up for others while quietly praying for the strength to show up for yourself. That quiet perseverance is a faith all its own.
But even in those uncertain seasons, God is at work.
He is stretching us, shaping us, strengthening us, and preparing us for greater responsibility, greater purpose, and greater impact. Our wounds don’t disqualify us; they deepen us. They make us more compassionate, more aware, and more capable of lifting others.
So if you are reading this and you’re still healing, if you’re tired, overwhelmed, or wondering why life has felt so heavy, take heart. Your story is not over. Your pain is not pointless. And your future is not canceled.
You may not see it yet, but God is building something in you through every tear, every trial, and every tough moment.
And one day, you will look back with clarity and say:
“I was wounded deeply… but God used me greatly.”