The Ones They Threw Away
By Jimmie Aaron Kepler

I’ve lived long enough to know what it feels like to be passed over.

To sit in the back row while someone else gets the nod.
To watch the world size you up and decide you don’t quite measure.
Articles turned down. Manuscripts rejected. Ghosted by friends.
Too plain. Too slow. Too much baggage. Too short.
Not enough or not the correct social media presence. Not enough shine.

Yeah, I’ve been there. Maybe you have too.

But the good book has a line that just won’t let me go. It says:

“The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.  This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”— Psalm 118:22–23 (KJV)

Now that’s something, isn’t it?

They tossed that stone aside — said it wasn’t good enough for what they were building.
But God had other plans. He picked it up, brushed it off,
and laid it down as the very first stone in something eternal.

He turned what was rejected into what was essential.

And that’s the kind of God I believe in —
one who sees value in what the world calls worthless,
one who chooses the wounded, the worn, the weathered.

Truth is, He builds His finest work out of what’s been broken.
Cracks and all. And remember, sometimes it takes cracks to let the light to get in.

So if you’re feeling like yesterday’s news,
like maybe you missed your chance or weren’t ever in the running —
take heart.

You might just be God’s next cornerstone.

Because what others threw away…
God’s got plans for.

And when it’s His doing, well — it’s always marvelous in the end.

Keep the faith,
—Jimmie
📖 jimmiekepler.com | jimmiekepler.substack.com

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more of Jimmie Aaron Kepler’s books at Jimmie’s books available in paperback, ebook, audio, and large print