Having struggled with feeling useless due to some health challenges and having to give up work at fifty. This book has helped me to understand that God does not use people. We often define ourselves by our usefulness and what we do. I would recommend this book to anyone who struggles with feelings of uselessness and inadequacy.

Reading “Valuable” helped me to reassess my understanding of the phrase “to be used by God”. In today’s culture, our value or worth is so often defined by our usefulness. If we are not seen as useful by those around us because of our failures, our weaknesses, chronic illness, background, past wrongs etc, then the implication is that we have little, or no value. Many of us go on to believe the lies that we are not valuable. You see, God does not see us as the world sees you and me. Each and every one of us is valuable to God. Liz explains that rather than by being used by God, (think about the harm that people experience when they are ‘used’ by others) he calls us to partner with him, to join and remain in Jesus and be co-workers with him. Liz shows us through accounts of people in the Bible, her own story and the story of others she knows, that God does not use us, but rather he loves us and transforms us. Liz has written some beautiful prayers and reflections at the end of each chapter. These prayers written in the first person express what is often in our hearts but ones which we may not find easy to put into words ourselves. One point Liz made that spoke to me when I first read it, and has stayed with me is how we often look at people’s lives through the lens of use. I know I have made that mistake of looking at myself in this way. Instead of looking at one another from this perspective, let’s look at each other through the lens of love, through God’s eyes, and see each other as valuable, just as we are in the eyes of God. My final point as I come to an end of my book review is that I heartily recommend this book, “Valuable” to you. I do believe you will be blessed as you read and reflect on Liz’s words.

Reading this book has completely changed my view on suffering, I no longer need to suffer cheerfully for God to use me. Her book has also made me think about the way I and others use the language of usefulness. I thought I had to suffer stoically to show that I was peaceful, then God could use my suffering. Now I realise that being honest about things that are hard, but knowing the God who goes with me is a much healthier attitude. our value isn't in how happy we are, how happy we can make others, it's in how busy we are. Our value is in God, his glory is shown regardless of how happy we are, we can be honest with suffering and lament and still show God's love to others. It has also helped me understand how the word ‘use’ was used in the Bible. This isn't just a challenging book in the use of our language and lies we've believed, but it's full of theological insights into the phrases and words so often misunderstood as meaning we should be productive and cheerfully suffer. This is worth a read if you're a leader of any church group, if you're in pastoral care or if you struggle with feeling like God doesn't use you, or you don't do enough for God, or maybe you do too much and want to get off the treadmill - this book is your permission slip. I can't recommend this book enough!

How many times have I prayed “God please use me?” More than I can remember. A well meaning prayer, certainly. And one that rolls off the tongue easily if we’ve been brought up in the church and/or have a hunger for being part of his Kingdom work. “I want to be used by you, Father, I want to serve you, use me to bless others” etc. Valuable by Liz Carter breaks through the language of usefulness and shows us how unbiblical it is. Through personal stories of how dangerous this language can be, and poignant examples of how easily we can slip into it, this book drew me up sharp. “Yikes,” I muttered several times while reading it. I had never considered how “God uses us” language would sound to someone who has been used and abused by a parent, partner or other. Do I want people to think of God the way they think of their abusers? Since reading this book, I have begun to notice how often we use this language, without even thinking about it. Is it even true that God wants to use us? Liz takes us on a journey through the scriptures we might use to back this idea up, beautifully showing how the heart of God is not to use us but to transform us. This book is very challenging. And not just challenging, but stunningly written. Liz’s skill as a storyteller and poet is woven in throughout, creating something more breathtaking than your average non-fiction book. She speaks to the heart of anyone who has ever felt useless and she brings hope, showing us the true heart of God and pointing us to our glorious, beautiful Saviour. And yet (if you’re reading this and concerned about this point) it is not ‘me’ centred. It is Bible-centred. She includes a reflection guide at the back so you can grapple with the scriptures yourselves, checking if she’s right and examining your own heart before God. I thoroughly recommend this book as a timely interruption into our productivity-driven christian lives. Please take the opportunity to read it and explore the truths within as you sit at Jesus’ feet.

Reading this book feels like coming home, not to a place where shame and negative beliefs knock at the door but to a place where we can rest and just be, knowing we are unconditionally loved by God for who we are and not for what we do. Through her own journey of living with chronic illness and by deftly weaving others vulnerable stories throughout the book, Liz leads us out of the mire of feeling weak and useless, showing us through scripture that our value is in God and not in how useful we are. She teaches us that His greatest desire is for intimacy with us. Liz lives out what she is offering us here and is honest and authentic in vulnerably sharing her own struggles with feeling useful. This book is so needed and will deeply impact many people’s lives and that’s not something I say lightly! With reflection questions at the end of each chapter and a study guide at the end of the book this is a great resource for both the individual or a group.

As someone who is so often frustrated at how little they can do, the subtitle of this book really got my attention, and I'm so glad I took the plunge and read it! Parts of it were difficult to read the first time through, and I did have to read the whole book before it fully made sense to me. A bit like antiseptic on an open wound, it also stung at times. However, I can tell that allowing Liz's words to speak God's truths to me in fresh ways has helped clean out decades of lies, and will allow so much healing to follow. I needed a lot of tissues as I worked my way through the book the first time, but the tears I cried were ones of relief and release. Now, as I read it for a second time (which I doubt will be the last!) it is producing fewer tears, and more joy and hope, as I discover more of the indescribable love God longs to lavish upon me. This book especially resonated with me as someone who, like Liz, wrestles with the challenges of chronic illness limiting my physical abilities. Nonetheless, I think Liz has taken great care to ensure it would be just as beneficial to anyone who is tired (physically or metaphorically) of not feeling 'enough' as a Christian, in any aspect of their faith or life. For anyone who is confident in their usefulness, but likes a challenge, I'd recommended it for a fresh perspective on how you view and interact with others!