You have been given gifts and talents. Do you know what they are? What are you doing with them?
I had an identity crisis a few months ago. Being on the race, you are surrounded by many people who share the same dreams, values, morals and passions as you. You desire a lot of the same things. This is my worst nightmare. I want nothing more than to walk in who I am and be different. I like to blaze my own trail. In trying to be “different” than everyone in this community I lost a sense of who was. If one person had a particular gift or talent, that meant that I didn’t have it. And being around people who think and feel the same way I do about deep things is hard for me to be okay with me feeling the same way.
Because if they have that talent or gift I
surely cannot have that gift or talent or because
they feel that way or think about that the same way,
I cannot.
Twisted, right?
A good friend once asked me,
“Are you okay even if you don’t bring
anything to the table? Do you still know that
you are loved, valued and cared for?”
Well I have been wasting so much energy and emotion to discover that totally far out thing, that no one else has that I bring to the table, when in reality that does not exist. We are all filled with the Holy Spirit and we all carry the character of God. However, the way that each of us exemplifies the character of God is different and that is what makes us unique.
In Matthew 25, there is a parable about servants who are given their talents: “to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability” (Matthew 25:15). God graciously entrusts us with certain skills and a certain amount of power to employ them. He gives us certain abilities and capabilities. It is made clear that we must not undervalue what we have been given. Some are given more, some are given less, but all are given much. For every servant who is faithful with the talents entrusted to them the Lord will say, “well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:23).
We each have been given gifts and talents. Sometimes the name they carry may be the same as someone else, yet, we each walk them out, carry and steward them differently. That is okay. It is actually what we are supposed to do. The Lord created each of us uniquely and the way we walk in our gifts and talents is valued and needed in the body of Christ. Simply step into those gifts and talents the Lord has given you and don’t wonder or worry about others’ gifts around you. It is inhibiting you from being your best you.
Step into the joy and freedom to be you.
What you bring to the table, you alone, are enough. So come on, pull up a chair, and take a seat.
kel xx
