Have you ever had somebody show you something your phone can do and thought, “Wait... my phone can do that?” It happens all the time with grandkids and grandparents, I have seen it!. You can have the same phone for years and still discover some feature you never knew existed. Maybe there's a setting buried three menus deep, a shortcut you never knew about, or a tool that the company built into the phone that you've never used. The feature was always there. You just didn't know it was there.

I think sometimes we do the same thing with the way God made us. There are things God has placed inside of you that you may not even realize are there.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12 that there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, different kinds of service, and different ways God works, but they all come from the same God. Then he says something that ought to make us stop and think: “A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” God has put something in you that He intends to use to help somebody else. The problem is some of us have never taken the time to discover what that is.

Maybe you've never thought of yourself as gifted. Maybe when you hear the word “gift,” you immediately think about preaching, singing, or teaching. Listen, God has a much bigger toolbox than that. Some people are gifted at encouraging. Some are gifted at leading. Some are gifted at serving. Some are gifted at giving. Some are gifted at showing mercy. Some have an incredible ability to teach. Some have wisdom that seems to show up at exactly the right moment. Some people can walk into a difficult situation and bring peace. Some can see a need before anyone else notices it. Some can organize chaos. Some can build relationships with people nobody else knows how to reach.

And here's what I've learned in my life and watching others: sometimes your gift feels so natural to you that you don't even recognize it as a gift. You might think, “Everybody can do that.” No, they can't. You might think, “It's no big deal.” Maybe not to you—but it might be a huge deal to somebody else.

Maybe you're the person everybody comes to when they need advice. Maybe you're the one who notices when somebody is sitting alone. Maybe you can explain complicated things in a way that makes sense. Maybe you can make people laugh when they're having a terrible day. Maybe you have a heart for children. Maybe you're good at fixing things. Maybe you know how to make people feel welcome. Maybe you're the person who will quietly show up and do whatever needs to be done without needing anybody to know about it.

Those things matter. Don't make the mistake of thinking that because something comes naturally to you, it isn't valuable. Sometimes the very thing you overlook is the thing God wants to use.

And here's another mistake we make: we compare our gifts to somebody else's. We see somebody preaching and wish we could preach. We see somebody leading worship and wish we could sing. We see somebody with a huge personality and wish we were more outgoing. But God never asked you to be somebody else. He created you on purpose, and He equipped you for the purpose He created you for. You don't have to have somebody else's gift to be useful to God. You need to discover your gift.

And here's the best way I've found to do that: start serving. Sometimes we sit around waiting for God to send us a burning bush with a label on it that says, “THIS IS YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT.” It usually doesn't happen that way. Sometimes you discover what God has put in you by simply getting involved.

Try something you've never tried. Volunteer. Help somebody. Teach something. Pray with somebody. Serve behind the scenes. Encourage somebody. Take responsibility for something. Step into an opportunity instead of waiting until you feel completely qualified. You may discover something you never knew was there.

The company that made your phone put features inside of it that you may never use simply because you never knew they existed. God has placed gifts inside of you that may be waiting to be discovered and developed.

So today, don't ask, “What am I good at?”

Ask a better question: “God, what have You put in me that You want to use for somebody else?”

Then start looking.

Today’s Prayer

Father God,

Thank You that You didn't create me empty. Thank You that You have placed gifts, abilities, passions, experiences, and strengths inside of me that You want to use for Your Kingdom. Open my eyes to see what You've already put in me.

Help me stop comparing myself to other people. Help me stop wishing I had somebody else's gifts and start being grateful for what You've given me.

Show me the things that come naturally to me. Show me the things that bring me joy when I'm serving others. Show me the needs that You have given me a heart to meet. And give me the courage to step out and try things I've never tried before.

God, help me discover what's already in me.

In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.