“From my understanding of the bible, God took many who messed up and lifted them up to be teachers, leaders, and inspirations to all of us.”
King David comes to mind!
Exactly, King David had many struggles and how the Lord loved him.
Paul was another, persecuting the Christians, and the Lord turned him into an incredible leader in the early church.
We are all sinners, God looks at our hearts and our desire to change.