Gifts With a Purpose

“God has taught me, God has proved to me, that in Him alone, I am equipped, qualified and full of purpose. I don’t need to meet the standards of the world to offer the world anything.”

“God has given each of you a gift. Use it to help each other. This will show God’s loving-favor.” 1 Peter 4:10 NLV

I flipped open my bible to read this verse and noticed it was already highlighted. Classic God, so good to show me His truths over and over (and over and over, amiright?). “...God has given me a gift. I should use it to help others. This is how I can show God’s love…” 

I sat back and wondered where I had been in life, in motherhood, when I traced those words on that page with a highlighter. Knowing where I’ve been in my own personal journey of embracing my God-given-purpose in life, I didn’t need to wonder too long if I had been in a season of feeling less than. 

Feeling less than because long ago I quit college and my job to be a stay at home mama—what do I have to offer others with no college degree? 

Maybe feeling less than because I was knee-deep in children and thinking I had no more of myself to give to anyone? 

Possibly feeling less than because I was listening to the enemy's lies that I wasn’t qualified to be part of someone else's community if I could barely hang on to my own. 

Or perhaps I was wondering how could I serve a purpose to anyone else when, frankly, I could barely leave my house alone without someone asking to come with me, let alone be useful to others.

But as I reread those words that Peter spoke, they jumped back out to me… almost as if they were highlighted (wink, wink). God has taught me, God has proved to me, that in Him alone, I am equipped, qualified and full of purpose. I don’t need to meet the standards of the world to offer the world anything. Peter reflects on the truth that our spiritual gifts

varied and grace given, and the strength to exercise those gifts, comes solely from our Father in Heaven. He is the only source. I don’t need to dwell on the ways I can’t give when I have an endless list of ways that I can be purposeful right now. 

So, friend, maybe you’ve felt the enemies lie too. Maybe you felt the false weight that you didn’t have anything to offer, that you aren’t qualified to be where you are, or you feel less than equipped for this season? Maybe you think God skipped you when He was handing out His spiritual gifts. 

I promise you, mama, He didn't miss you. He has equipped you with beautiful gifts that only you can offer the people that surround you. Breathe in that truth and exhale your own mental war.

Action Step:

• Choose stillness, even for a few moments, to reflect on the fact that you don’t need to meet the world's standard to offer the world what God has blessed you with. Ask Him to show you all the spiritual gifts He has trusted you with. Embrace the confidence that He has in you, to serve those around you the way He has intended. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, how good You are to trust us to love others the way You want them to be loved. I thank You for the way You heal our hearts and make us whole in You. I thank You for being the one equipping us in this life. I pray over every mom reading this, that today You would take a brick down from the wall that's been built in our minds, telling us that we are not qualified for the season surrounding us. I ask, and trust, that You will meet each of us where we are and will continue to show us how You have meticulously gifted us with what we need to serve those around us. Open our eyes to see how we can be used to bring glory to You. Open our hearts to embrace the love that others show us. We thank You for Who You say You are. Amen.

Cydnee, mom of 4, always re-highlighting the good stuff.

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