Nothing is Wasted at the Altar

There are moments when it feels like God is so incredibly personal. For me, this morning was one of those moments. As the sun rose over the lake, painting the sky with golden light, the little white chapel in the distance caught my eye. In the quiet, as I prayed, I was reminded of a powerful truth: nothing is wasted at the altar.

It’s amazing how God speaks in simple but profound ways. As I reflected, a worship song I’ve been listening to recently came to mind, its message woven around surrendering everything at the altar. The lyrics echoed what God was already showing me, every tear, every question, every hurt, every bit of brokenness I bring to Him matters. Nothing is overlooked. Nothing is thrown away. In His hands, nothing is wasted.

I recently attended an event where I felt God calling me forward. It wasn’t the first time, but it was fresh and deep. He was inviting me into greater forgiveness and healing. At that moment, he reminded me: I can’t fully forgive myself if I’m unwilling to forgive others.

This past year has been one of the hardest my family has ever faced. We’ve walked through heartache and uncertainty, but through it all, God was faithful. Over and over, He called me to the altar, sometimes a church altar, sometimes the quiet altar of my own prayer time. Each time I came I laid down my pain, my questions, and my insecurities. Through it all, I felt His freedom and healing wash over me.

The beauty of the altar is that it's not just a place to come when you’ve sinned, though that is always important. It’s also a place for the children of God to come with their burdens, their grief, and their heaviness. It’s a place to exchange what weighs us down for the peace only Jesus can give.

The Power of the Altar

The Bible tells us plainly that we don’t have to carry our burdens alone.

Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

 Jesus Himself invites us to bring our exhaustion and lay it down before Him.

1 Peter 5:7 – “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

 God doesn’t just see our struggles He cares deeply, and He asks us to hand them over.

Joel 2:25 – “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…”

 Even the seasons that feel wasted, broken, or stolen can be restored when we place them in His hands.

The truth is, the enemy is no respecter of persons. Every one of us will face seasons where life feels overwhelming, but Jesus has already overcome. And the altar, the place of surrender is where that victory becomes personal.

I believe now more than ever God is calling His people back to the altar. Not just the physical altar in a church, but the altar of our hearts. A place where we come unashamed, honest, and willing to be healed by the One who loves us most.

The altar is a place of exchange. We bring Him our burdens, and He gives us His peace. We offer Him our brokenness, and He gives us His healing. We surrender what we cannot control, and He gives us hope.

And the promise remains: nothing you bring to God at the altar is ever wasted.

Reflection Questions

What burdens have you been carrying that God is inviting you to lay at His altar today?

How has God shown His faithfulness to you in past seasons when you surrendered to Him?

What step can you take this week to return to the altar either in prayer, in worship, or in forgiveness?

Father, thank You for reminding me that nothing I bring to You is wasted. Thank You for collecting every tear, redeeming every broken place, and meeting me every time I come. Teach me to forgive as You forgive, to lay down what I was never meant to carry, and to live surrendered at the altar of Your presence. Draw Your people back to the place of healing, freedom, and restoration found only in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Author: Priscilla Campbell

Editor: Christine Platt