Look for the Obvious
Some blogs birth other blogs. Today is a case in point. I finished Tuesday’s blog thinking about all of those women who would say, “I’m willing to be brave, but I don’t have any idea how God wants to use me.” I can’t seem to get that nagging thought out of my mind.When it comes to strengths and gifts, I think of how my husband says we make things too complicated. It’s true. The strengths that are obvious to everyone else seem to be the very things we overlook or even avoid.I vividly remember the 7th grade. It was the year that I outgrew most of the boys. Why God has girls mature faster than boys, I will never understand. I just know that I felt really tall for about five years. Somewhere in middle school, I had a few people ask me if I played basketball. About the third time I heard the question, I decided that the answer would always be “No!”. I was stubborn enough to choose not to do something simply because it was what everyone expected.Fast-forward to today. I have quite a wingspan. I tell my son that I did everything a woman could do to give him good basketball genes. I bet I could’ve done some damage on the court, if only I’d used the gifts that were so apparent to everyone else.I obviously didn’t learn my lesson because I see that same pattern in my life repeated when I was saved. For years I had loved public speaking. I wanted to be the next Oprah Winfrey and even had the unique opportunity to work at a local community television studio as an anchor and producer through high school. Yet when I became a Christian in college, I made a clear distinction in my mind that I was a “speaker,” but certainly not a “teacher.”The Lord must have shaken His head. Did I really think He gave me those experiences simply for me to forget them when He revealed to me that my life had a purpose beyond worldly success?I’m pretty sure you have your own similar story to tell. Ask yourself: when have I felt I was at my best? This will give you an idea of where God may choose to use you. What do other people affirm in you? Look to what generated that affirmation and you will find your strength.
- Are you a good listener? Perhaps God wants to use you to minister to those who are struggling and need you to use your gift.
- Are you the one who makes everyone feel welcome in a social setting? Do you know how many ways God could use your relational skills to break down barriers with those who need to know Him.
- Are you creative? What would it look like for you to be brave and use your gifts for His glory? At our church alone, I can think of countless ways that creative people can be put to use for His glory.
- Do you thrive when organizing? I think you get the point…
God wired you for greatness. Don’t neglect what He put inside you. He created you to use it. twitter | facebook