But What Can I Do?

If not careful, I could let the comparison game play in my head continually. I look at gifts and talents others have and see my short comings. I have a hard time singing on key so no worship team for me. If you ask me to draw a picture,

I immediately turn to my husband or children for help so the result will be recognizable. The list goes on. However, it’s easy to lose sight of how God has gifted me, and comparison hurts and even thwarts how He created me to impact those around me. I may not be able to carry a tune or inspire ooh’s and aah’s with my artistic ability, but I do have gifts that benefit others.

Unfortunately, that comparison game can stop us from being effective with the gifts we do have. Or we can feel paralyzed with fear thinking our gift is not as good as someone else’s. Yet, God doesn’t make mistakes. He gives us talents that are to be used to glorify Him. The question arises on whether we are willing to step out of our comfort zone and use them, develop them, and expand them to benefit others.

As I pondered this lesson, I think of David in the Old Testament. He goes to visit his brothers who are fighting in the Israeli army. He sees a giant, Goliath, taunting the army and wonders why no one will fight this enemy. When David finds no one willing to take on the giant, he steps forward. What I find interesting is that David is very young at this point. He has had no military training and could easily have used that as an excuse. (The dialog in my mind would have been: I’m too small. I don’t have military training. I don’t have a weapon. There’s no armor around here that would fit me. Have you seen the size of this guy? Who will take care of my sheep if I die?) But that is not what David did. He also didn’t try to fight the giant with what others would use – swords or arrows. David used what he knew – a slingshot. David was a shepherd and had killed a lion and a bear with his sling to protect his father’s flock. He knew how to use that weapon and didn’t let his fighting methods which differed from others keep him from acting. He also knew Who was on his side. “Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiled.’” (I Samuel 17:45). I love that confidence. David knew the authority he had with God on His side and acted accordingly.

Notice that David had to act. He didn’t just stand there and expect God to strike Goliath dead. However, as soon as David stepped out in faith, God made sure that stone landed squarely where it needed to take down the giant. That prompts the question, “Have you taken that first step of faith to use what God has given you?” It takes courage and a knowledge of what God wants you to do. Then when you take that step, He can use you in ways you never thought possible.

Don’t let anyone tell you that you don’t have it what it takes - that you are not talented or smart enough, that someone is better, prettier, thinner or whatever than you. Determine in your heart that you will use your gifts and see how God comes alongside you to affect change in your world. Fight the running comparison dialog in your head and replace it with the promises from scripture.

Start today. When you take down your giant, when you see God use you to help others, or when you conquer a fear, please come back and leave a comment that will encourage others. That encouragement could be just what someone needs to take that first step.