The Gift We Love but Don’t Always Use

Have you ever found yourself not acting on something that God placed inside you? You may have loved that gift but still found yourself not fully using it.  I love the creative gift I’ve been given; I love creating, I love the details, I love the visual images I see in ordinary places — the little details others may miss. But I admit, I haven’t fully developed or used my gift.

Sometimes we admire the gift, talk about the gift, dream about the gift — but still hesitate to use it. What God places in us should also flow through us.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” — Matthew 6:33

When we seek God first, even our gifts take on a greater purpose. They are no longer just about what we can accomplish for ourselves, but how God can use what He placed in us to serve, encourage, and bring light to others.

What Are You Sitting On?

Have you been given a gift or talent, maybe even an idea to implement but have failed to act? Is there something you’ve been called to do, but keep putting off? Maybe it’s something others see in you, but it’s something you minimize.

Some gifts are quiet. Maybe it’s the way you make a room feel peaceful or the way you comfort people. Maybe you’re a good problem solver and you notice things that others miss. Our gifts matter. They have value, even when we do not fully realize it.

Why do we hold back?

One reason many of us don’t move forward is uncertainty. Sometimes we’re inspired to move, but we hold back because we wonder if it’s something we should do; we think to ourselves...there are others that can do it better than me, they have more skills than me.

When we hesitate, we have to remember that God made us. He knows what He placed in us, and He knows how to help us grow into our gift. Each of us carries our own uniqueness, flavor, personality, perspective, and style. That means even if someone else has a similar gift, they will not express it exactly the way we do.

Your Gift Has Your Fingerprint on It

There may be others who are more experienced, more polished, or more visible, but they are not you, they are not me.

So, when we have a gift and talent, no one can else is going to do it exactly like we would. What each of us do is shaped by our life experiences, our personality, our uniqueness.

Romans 12:6 reminds us that we have “gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us.” That means we don't all carry the same gift in the same way. Our gift does not have to look like anyone else’s to be valuable.

Put aside the feeling that what we do is not extraordinary, the way each of us does things may be exactly what someone needs.

Don’t Be Afraid to Move Forward

God knows our abilities and our limitations. He leads us and directs us. Don’t be afraid to take a step.

Have you ever had someone point out something in you that you did not fully see in yourself? Sometimes others recognize our gifts before we do. God can use encouragement, confirmation, opportunity, and even repeated nudges to help us recognize what He has placed inside of us.

And when the thought comes, “I’m not that good,” remember this: gifts grow when we use them. We may not be perfect in the beginning, but practice makes progress. We don’t have to know everything to take the next step. Every time we use our gift, it develops a little more.

1 Timothy 4:14 says, “Neglect not the gift that is in thee.” Sometimes the issue is not that we don’t have a gift — it is that we haven’t nurtured it, practiced it, or given it room to grow.

Your Gift Was Not Given by Accident

Our gifts are not random. They are not just hobbies, interests, or abilities floating around without a purpose. They are part of how we show up in the world. They are part of how we serve. They are part of how we reflect God’s goodness, creativity, wisdom, compassion, and love.

We have to ask ourselves if we’re willing to use what God has given us. Maybe today we stop comparing, stop minimizing, and stop waiting for everything to feel perfect.

Remember, our gift wasn’t given by accident. Someone may be waiting for the encouragement, beauty, help, or joy that only you can bring.