God Uses Imperfect People w/ Max Lucado God Never Gives Up on You
Hosted by Ellen Krause (Mentor Mama)
God Uses Imperfect People:
Ever feel disqualified by your past or today’s struggles? In this conversation, Max Lucado shares hope from his new book, God Never Gives Up on You—a fresh look at Jacob that proves God writes straight with crooked lines. If your breakdowns outnumber your breakthroughs, you’re right where grace can meet you. We talk about God’s covenant love, the danger of shrinking God down to “manageable terms,” facing the past with humility, and why the gospel frees us from guilt and fear.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro — God uses imperfect people; episode setup
02:20 Meet Max Lucado
03:40 “Tilted halos”: who this book is for (and Max’s club)
06:20 Quick tour of Jacob’s life (birthright, exile, Jabbok)
10:20 The real hero: God’s covenant faithfulness
12:05 Transactional prayer & the ladder vision (letting God be big)
15:30 Tozer’s warning: shrinking God to “manageable terms”
17:45 Laban’s switcheroo & living with consequences
20:40 Facing Esau: humility, confession, reconciliation
23:55 The toxic detour at Shechem — why to leave unsafe cultures
27:30 Second (and third) chances: grace that won’t quit
30:05 Say “yes” to grace — Plan A vs. Plan B
32:20 The gospel: cross, resurrection, freedom from guilt & fear
35:15 Resources & free Jacob study (maxlucado.com)
36:10 Lightning round: Bible version, journaling, study tools
38:05 Final encouragement
39:10 Close
God Uses Imperfect People—and that’s the hope at the heart of this episode with best-selling author Max Lucado. If your past feels messy or your “tilted halo” keeps slipping, you’re exactly the kind of person God loves to restore and use. Drawing from Jacob’s story and Max’s new book, God Never Gives Up on You, we explore how a big, holy God pursues broken people, keeps His covenant, and turns breakdowns into breakthroughs. You’ll hear why bargaining with God shrinks our view of Him, how to face your “Esau” with humility and find real reconciliation, and why grace forgives fully while still teaching us through consequences. Packed with gospel-centered encouragement and practical next steps, this conversation shows—plainly and tenderly—how God uses imperfect people to accomplish His good purposes, and how you can say “yes” to that grace today.
For the not-so-super saints
Max introduces his book to anyone with a “tilted halo.” Jacob’s story is messy—more stumbles than triumphs—yet the hero is God, who keeps His promise and pursues a changed heart. If you’ve failed, you’re not disqualified; you’re the kind of person God loves to redeem and use.
A quick tour of Jacob (and why it matters)
From birthright drama and family deceit to the long exile, Laban’s trickery, and the night wrestling at Jabbok, Jacob’s life is a tangle of schemes and grace. Max highlights the “ladder” vision—God initiating when Jacob had nothing to offer—and the eventual reconciliation with Esau, where humility opened the door to healing.
Don’t bargain with a big God
Left alone, we try to reduce God to something we can manage—“If You do this, I’ll do that.” Max urges us to let God be God: holy, other, and immeasurably kind. Transactional faith shrinks our worship; grace-first faith enlarges it.
Consequences are real; covenant love is steadier still
Jacob deceived and was deceived. Grace doesn’t erase every earthly ripple—but it stays with us in the fallout, forming character and dependence on God. Expect mercy and wise discipline from a Father who won’t let go.
“Face your Esau with humility; God often gets there first.”
-Max Lucado
Face your Esau
To enter the future God prepared, Jacob had to pass through Esau’s territory. We, too, must face the people and moments we’ve wounded. Max shows how humility, confession, and courage invite God’s healing—and how God often goes ahead to soften hearts.
When you’re in a toxic place
Jacob stopped short of Bethel and settled near Shechem—a tragic detour. Max names toxic cultures (power over kindness, injustice over care for the weak) and says: leave. God wasn’t named in that chapter, but He reappears as Jacob repents and returns. Grace waits at Bethel.
“Grace means God won’t give up—even when we do.”
-Max Lucado
Say “yes” to grace
Max closes with the gospel: Jesus took our place so we could enter God’s presence without fear. Plan A is grace—freely received, daily lived. Say “yes,” and let God lead you into a life where guilt loses power and death loses its sting.
Key Moments
“The hero of Jacob’s story isn’t Jacob—it’s God.”
-Max Lucado
Resources & Links
FAQs
Does God really use imperfect people?
Yes—Jacob’s life shows that God’s covenant love outlasts our failures. He refines us and still works through us.
What if I’m carrying guilt from my past?
Bring it into the light. Confess, make amends where possible, and receive grace. In Christ, guilt loses its power.
Can I out-sin God’s grace?
No. Grace isn’t license, but it is larger than your worst day. God disciplines, restores, and doesn’t give up.
How do I start again with God today?
Pray simply: “Jesus, I say yes to Your grace. Forgive me, lead me, and make me new.” Then take one obedient step.
Final Encouragement
If you feel like Jacob—complex, inconsistent, a little bit of a mess—you’re not beyond God’s reach. Turn toward Him today. Let grace untangle the knots, one humble step at a time.
Categories: Podcasts
About the author
Leave a Reply