Many of us as Christians go through our Christian walk waiting for God to reveal our “gift”. We get so caught up in “finding our gift” to share with others, that we miss what God is calling us to. Most of the time we are waiting for something that suits us to reveal itself. Something that makes sense for our abilities and our perceived talents. We avoid things that make us uncomfortable. Most of the time the things that God calls us to do are not our first choices to serve.
We forget that when God calls someone to a task, He doesn’t pick the most talented person in the area of service He has in mind. When God called Moses, He chose a man who stuttered to lead a nation out of slavery. Moses was chosen, because he was looking and responded when he saw God at work in the burning bush. Then He gave Moses a helper to speak for him and power to accomplish the task. God always equips us for the task He invites us to.
When God reveals Himself in the things going on around us, that’s when and what He wants us to be involved in. I am an introvert by nature. I would rather be home in my comfortable house then in a gathering of 700+ people. Large crowds make me uncomfortable. Last year I was invited by the church leadership to attend a conference. While at the conference God gave me ears to hear the plea of a brothers heart, to listen and be moved. That conversation has led to a year of supporting a missionary and feeding hungry villagers in a far off land. This all happened just months before a pandemic hit and caused a famine in that land. God found a way to give my charity budget an increase, that wasn’t there before, to be able to faithfully give aid to a brother in need. All because I was where God was working and watching for what He was doing.
Whether it’s in a conversation with someone from another country or discussion with a brother at church, God is revealing Himself to us all the time. I am not a natural born leader. I am quite comfortable following the direction of others. In fact being in charge and responsible for anything makes me very uncomfortable. I would rather let someone else be that person. Recently, I was asked to consider being the director of evangelism at my church. My first inclination was to reject the idea, because the idea of it makes me uncomfortable. However, God has revealed to me an opportunity at an unprecedented time to work with Him.
Young people, teenagers have always made me uncomfortable by nature. I am awkward in conversation with them and have virtually nothing in common with most of them. Yet, God continues to put them in my life, whether it’s to mentor or listen to their stories, lead them in a small group or teach them how to use tools at work camp. Several years ago God brought a young man in my life to mentor. At first thought, the idea made me uncomfortable. I mean what in the world would I have to offer this young man. But God provided the answers as we grew together. We are now friends and brothers in Christ. All because I was watching what God was doing in this young mans life.
Three years ago our church took a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. I am a big man and I do not like to fly. The mere thought of flying sets me to panic. It is very uncomfortable when you have to fly for 6 hours for any reason. However, I felt called to this mission. I thought to minister to the children. But as the trip progressed and with each church we visited something else began to develop. Each church we visited God revealed someone for me to encourage and so through our missionary interpreter I would spend a few minutes with someone to encourage them in some way. I don’t remember the things I said, but I remember what happened at the end of the trip. The missionary that was doing all of my interpretations stopped me and thanked me for reminding him why he is a missionary that week. He said he gets so wrapped up in the day to day of the missionary life that he forgets sometimes what he is there for. To encourage others in the Lord. Because, that missionary was watching what God was doing where he was, God reminded him of his purpose.
This Is not a record of what God has used me for. It is a testimony to how God does not always give us comfortable assignments. It is to demonstrate how our spiritual gifts from one season to another can change. If we want God to reveal what He wants for us to do for Him we have to be watching what He is doing in the world around us. God reveals Himself to us everyday, trying to get our attention. He is in everything and everyplace. But most of the time we are looking for what we can do for God instead of looking for what God is inviting us to help with, that He is already doing.
Be watchful be uncomfortable be blessed.
