If you came over from my devotion on Encouragement for Today, welcome! Please don’t leave before checking out the free goodies just for you at the end of the post.
I once dated a guy who grew 5 inches in one summer.
That super fast growth caused him to develop a problem with his joints and knees. He was literally growing so fast that his body didn’t know how to handle it.
He struggled with his new height. His longer legs. His arms that felt like he was dragging them behind him. He banged his head on door frames. He felt awkward and clumsy because, well . . . he was.
Sometimes God asks us to grow. It feels too fast. We aren’t sure what to do with the new challenges. We are 100% certain there is someone else that could do this better.
I have such great news for you! We grow into our giftings. My high school boyfriend eventually became tall. That might sound odd, because he was tall. He just didn’t know what to do with all that extra height. Over time, he wasn’t just a tall guy, but a tall guy who lived like a tall guy.
I don’t even know where that old boyfriend is, but he’s not the star of this story.
You are.
God is raising up a movement of believers across the nation. He sees the gaps. He sees those who are lost. He sees how people are confused about who he is, and he’s asking us to love greater and to reflect who he is.
His mission has never changed and for some inexplicable reason he uses us to fulfill that beautiful plan.
Maybe you have felt God asking you to grow in your faith. You feel him calling — to believe in his words. To pray. To put aside some things that really don’t have a lot of eternal impact, so that you can discover the adventure of following him. And you feel ungifted. Unqualified. You are afraid he’s asking you to do something that goes against everyone else’s expectations of you (including your own.)
I hear you. I know exactly how that feels, but there’s some incredible news.
That doesn’t stop us from growing.
Let’s look at 5 ways that we can grow our (super) natural gifting.
Accept that its for you
Like my old boyfriend, unexpected growth might not feel natural at first. That’s when all our apprehensions rise up. Push back from that first thought. You are invited to be part of God’s mission, and it’s not based on how smart, how talented, how beautiful, or even how good you are.
It’s based on two things:
- God’s love for you
- What he sees in you that you don’t yet
Surrender
If you are around me for any amount of time, you will hear this word fall from my lips. It’s become key in my growth process.
Brave prayer is surrendered prayer. Brave women are surrendered women.
Don’t for a moment think that surrender is giving up. It’s surrendering to the truth that God knows you. That he sees the eternal impact of what you you do, and who you are as you follow him. He doesn’t label it as big or small, but in ways that we’ll only understand in eternity.
Surrender to his plan for you.
Surround yourself with others who want to move with you
This is so key.
I have a few people that I care about that I call balloon poppers. They call themselves realists.
Me: I feel God calling me to [fill in the blank].
Balloon popper: Don’t you know that you are [fill in the blank] or that you’ll have to [fill in the blank] or how hard [fill in the blank] will be.
Pop. Pop. Pop.
God made realists too, and he uses them in powerful ways, but if God is the one asking you to trust him or to take a step, he’s the boss. We don’t throw those realists out of our lives, because they love you and their questions are valid.
But we do move people in.
Surround yourself intentionally with women who will cheer you on as you take that hard step, who are aware of the obstacles, but believe that God is bigger, and surround yourself with those who long to grow in their faith and relationship with him.
Accept that it’s going to be awkward
Growth isn’t seamless. You will bump into the door frame. You will make mistakes. You will fall on your face. You will get back up.
Mistakes aren’t fatal. They aren’t failure. They are part of the growth process.
Don’t forget the {super} in your natural giftings
1 Peter 4:10 reminds us to use whatever gift we have received to serve others. That’s awesome, but there’s even more. There is a supernatural aspect to faith that cannot be ignored (though we often do).
In John 16:7, a group of afraid followers stood in front of Jesus as he told them he was going away. He made a promise. He was sending a Helper, the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the one speaking here. He told those believers that they’d have supernatural help.
Those same words are for us.
The Holy Spirit is a teacher. He offers wisdom. He knows the plans God has for you, and works hand-in-hand with those plans. He empowers. He offers direction.
We are not alone in this, not by a mile. You have natural giftings, but we also are offered {super}natural help.
Growth isn’t a one-time deal
My old boyfriend eventually stopped growing. I think he hit 6′ 3″. I’m not sure, but supernatural growth isn’t like that all.
We’ll grow and stretch and learn for the rest of our faith-filled lives as we follow Jesus. We’ll climb one mountain, stretch our arms in the air in praise, and at some point we’ll climb another. That’s the beauty of {super}natural gifts and growth.
Our Heavenly Father is patient with us. He sees what we do not. He allows us to grow, sometimes at a fast pace, at other times our growth comes when we are completely still.
Yet it’s all for one reason — his love for the world, and for us.
Suzie
A fun announcement and a free gift
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We’ll walk with Jesus through a portion of my new book, Come With Me Devotional: A Yearlong Adventure in Following Jesus. We’ll explore one invitation from Jesus each day, and how to live that in real life.
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Your message today is so encouraging Suzie! I so agree that the passions of pur hearts are a gift from God and He desires us to grow in them and use them for His glory. That’s where things get a bit turkey for me. Sometimes it is difficult to see how teaching an art class or creating a painting glorifies Him.
But on I trod! Making a living is also necessary in this world, but it feels so contrary to the gospel. How do I rectify that? Are they two different things, careers and gifting? They feel like they should be the same thing. Do what you love they say. I just get a bit confused when it comes to money. I would give everything away if I could, but there just isn’t enough time to have two jobs. Sorry, just a bit confused these days:) thank you for your gifting suzie😊
Many times, we glorify stage gifts (preaching, singing or playing an instrument, teaching and etc) and limit the other ways in which we can be used by God. Lisa don’t feel confused because I am the same way. I wonder how does my baking glorify God. And I know you are wondering how does your teaching art or painting glorify him. Christ desires to express himself through our emotions, personalities, skills and giftings.With every paint stroke or pencil sketch you are showing others what Jesus is like as an art teacher. You are helping them see the beauty of being creative and how to express themselves in a healthy way. Art has the ability to heal and inspire.
I hope this gives you a different perspective. You are gifted!
I wish I lived close so I could come to your art class. It’s one of my desires. To learn to paint and reflect what I feel inside on a canvas. God is the ultimate artist. I look at his creation and marvel. I love what Ariel says above. We don’t want to limit how God desires to express himself through us.
I am just now reading this devotion and I enjoyed it so much. A lot of food for thought. I even took a lot of notes 😇 I too have never felt I had a gift. A man that is in my Life Group from church has said it is my compassion and love of people. I have always thought that was my personality trait. Thank you again.
Gail Novack
Oh! How I wish and pray to become that speaker I know is in me!!
I spoke one time in our church. When I ended my testimony, there wasn’t a dry eye to
be found. I was so touched and thankful I could reach so many people at one time.
I’d love to continue with this, but I think it to be “not good” to ask to speak. Right??
I’m not sure of how to go about this yearn in my heart and getting it done.
Shari, if you feel God asking you to speak, take one step. Continue to learn about it. Grow in that gifting.
Is it good to ask to speak? I believe there are groups all around you that are seeking speakers. Prison ministries. MOPs groups. Small groups. Churches that may not be able to afford a paid speaker, or can pay a small amount but long for someone who is passionate about the Word. I believe it’s absolutely good to share that you would love to encourage women with God’s Word.
I love this site: Christian Communicator Academy. It is two Christian women who speak and write and they host a free podcast helping grow women in this gifting. I hope you’ll check it out.
https://www.communicatoracademy.com
I know God is calling me out and I’m trying to be obedient. If I had listened to the negative around me and my own insecurities I never would have experienced the wonderful retreat I was so blessed to be able to attend. Thank you for your heart Suzie.
It was such a blessing to meet you fave to face and spend time with you Jem!! Keep stepping out in faith!!
GOD has called me to be more and become more. The attacks the enemy has attempted to throw me off the past month will not work!! I am a child of God and have a mission. GOD wants me completely his to spread his word and to help others.
I don’t think I have any real gift I talents. When I persue what I think my talents are, I’m rejected. I feel like a failure at 47.
Lori, you do have talents. I promise. I don’t know what they are, but I do know what it feels like to think that you don’t have them and then to joyfully (and sometimes painfully) discover them.
Let me pray for you.
Father, people are not indicators of what you speak over our hearts. You are. You know us. You know Lori. I don’t know what gifts you so carefully crafted in her, but you do. One is courage, because she wasn’t afraid to be honest and vulnerable. There are others, I am sure of that because you are her creator. Speak to her. Walk with her. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Dear Lori, I want you to know I prayed along with that prayer Suzie wrote and prayed for you. I’m sure you have gifts and talents. Ephesians 2:10 is true for you: “You are God’s masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance for you to do.”
This is spot-on! When God called me to start writing two years ago, it wasn’t until I first went through some pretty difficult transformations through acts of obedience and surrender. That is vital! Wherever you are being attacked/challenged, surrender in prayer and faith and seek God intensely. I believe those are the times when a great blessing is waiting around the corner. I’ve always known I had a gift for writing, but it wasn’t until I started seeking Christ with my whole heart that He showed me the amazing blessing He could pour out into my love for writing. I had a gift, but it wasn’t blessed and useable – if that makes sense. Once I started seeking God first and surrendering my life, my struggles, my pain, and my passions to Him, the doors began opening so wide and clear there was no way to mistake them. I can’t add anything to what you’ve said here, Suzie. It’s perfectly written and so true in every way. Balloon poppers — oh my! Yes, there will be many. “But seek first the kingdom of God, and all of these things will be added unto you.” Do it for God’s glory. Do it with a surrendered heart. Do it with continual faith. Do it with joyful expectation. Don’t compare your gifts with another’s — even if you have the same gifted area as another. This post is a blessing! Thank you, Suzie.
Oh Suzie! You’ve done it again. Your words touch deeply into my core & stir me. From growing 6 inches in one summer to being my own realist popping my very own balloons, a shiver ran down my spine as I read this message. Thank you for loving, encouraging, praying & believing in us while sharing your God-given gifts to inspire us to use ours for His kingdom!
Hey!
This is my first time ever on your blog. It was so enlightening. I can relate to so much of what you have written.
I was saved 3 years ago now, and I have always been a shy person. Over the past 3 years, God has blessed my family and I greatly (we are a blended family). I have lived in God’s peace, and I have experienced his healing first hand as well as witness this healing in my children. Now that my oldest is heading into teenage years, I want to obey God more and more. I believe that the stronger my relationship is with Jesus and the stronger my faith becomes.. my marriage and my children will be directly effected from this.. a verse I believe God showed me during one of my hardest times Acts 16:31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
My question is… I’m not really sure yet what my gifts are, but I’m anxious to find out. As a kid (I didn’t know Jesus), I believed I just wasn’t talented at anything, but now that I know Jesus, I know that isn’t so. I have always had a passion for horses, but when it came to riding horses, I had to practice harder than the rest. Today, I’m a great rider, but it took hard work. At church, I believe God has placed me as leader of HIS prayer partners ministry. Being a shy person, this does not come easy! But by praying for His guidance over His ministry, he is slowly teaching me. As you said early, it can be a very awkward learning process! I feel like I do nothing but bump my head on the door frame, however, some great things have come about. I guess my question is.. how do I know what my gift is? I really desire to be called into equine therapy… helping people with disabilities using horses. I love horses and I love helping others. Being a mom of 4 though does not allow for horses.. maybe God wants me focused on home? Is there any advice you could give me on figuring things out? I want to do God’s will. I know anything apart from that just won’t work! I feel kind of silly asking because ultimately I know the answer lies in my prayer life, meditation on His word and reading His word. I was just hoping for any words of advice.
Thanks,
Katie
Katie, I am part of the Care Team. From your note, God has given you four beautiful children that are probably your first responsibility unless your find and equine center where they can be with you. But God gives us talents and desires for a purpose. One time while in my nursing career, I said to a person, I wish I knew if this job was God’s will for my life and the wise person said, “You need a job, you have the skill, and if offered the job, why wouldn’t that be God’s will.” Sometimes, as humans, we make a mystery of God’s will when he says he will give us the desires of our hearts, he works all things out for the good of those called according to his purpose, he who began a good work in you will complete it. I would love to see you follow your dreams and dream big. We have a great big beautiful God. But even if you don’t get to be an equine therapist, I just rode a horse for the first time, the fact that you can ride horses is amazing. Stay in God’s word. pray, pray, pray. Walk in forgiveness. Blessings Diana from the Care Team
Dear Suzi, I think my talents from the Lord is to encourage. And I love to write. Thanks for the outlet to be able to share our writing. Blessings Diana
Dear Diana, you ARE an encourager. I just wanted to say I admire you for your gifts and talents. Glad you’re a fellow #LivingFreeTogether sister. <3
This encourages me so much today, Suzie. And thanks for the free downloads, I can’t wait to watch and read your message.
The past two weeks I’ve been sensing God letting me know he wants me to share the message of the book I’m writing with local sisters in my country. It feels overwhelming, and I know it will slow down my writing/editing/marketing process, yet I’m pretty sure He’s calling me to trust Him on this. I’m needing to speak more often at our church at the same time, which I almost said no to, but then I just felt Him prompting me to use my small gifts to bless those in my fellowship (and gain more speaking experience as well.)
I’m trusting Him, scared of failing, overwhelmed, but whispering “yes.” Praying for TIME/Wisdom/anointing to develop materials I can share in our local language, based on my book, which is still a rough draft!
This will only make your message more rich!
What a cute story about growth. I have found you have to steer clear of the balloon poppers when you have heard from God. Well maybe just not bring up what you know they will pop. Just recently I was asked to do something that feels like a huge stretch. I am sure there is someone else better fitter for the job. The cool thing is I reached out to someone whom I thought could do the job better, and she encouraged me to do it. God is good. Of course, my balloon popper encouraged me not to do it.
I do have to say balloon popper have their place. When I am overloaded and wanting to say “yes” to everything they keep me grounded.
Agreed. They are realists and God uses them for a purpose. It’s the story of the church — elbows, knees, feet, eyes, mouth — all working together. : )
We are blessed to be a blessing, that is for sure. Grateful and humbled all at the same time. Thanks, Suzi!