Have you tried one of the old-fashioned hand-held games in which you have to tilt and turn the game to cause a small metal ball to take a certain route or land in a specific hole? It’s not easy! There’s a lot of twisting and turning that goes along with the process. Sometimes the ball lands in an undesired hole, and you have to shake it free to begin the process again.

Have you ever felt like that small metal ball? You roll around, not quite fitting, bumping into barriers, falling into the “wrong” place and needing a little shake to get free to roll around again, seeking the comfort of the right fit.

We can feel the same way about our spiritual gifts.

What best describes your experience?

• I know exactly what my spiritual gift is and I use it regularly.
• I’ve explored my spiritual gift, but I don’t have a clear idea of what it is or what God wants me to do with it.
• I’m clueless when it comes to my spiritual gift. What is it and what am I supposed to do with it?
• Spiritual gifts? I think I missed the day God handed them out!

If you chose the last statement, let me assure you God didn’t forget you! 1 Corinthians 1:7 says God gives a spiritual gift to each person who believes in him. He didn’t leave you out. The problem is usually in discerning what our gift is and how to use it. We can get confused about our gifts.

For example, we sometimes assume our spiritual gift is something we’re passionate about doing. I’m confident God fans the flame of passion in us, but what if we’re not ultra-excited about something…does that mean we’re not gifted for it? What if that just means we’re being stubborn and not accepting God’s will? If I’m gifted to teach, will I be excited about teaching every moment of my life? I may be gifted in advising others, but will I whole-heartedly want to always listen to people whine and complain? Probably not! We’re human, and we need to not base our gifts and the use of our gifts on our emotions and experiences.

One Spirit, the same Spirit, does all these things, and the Spirit decides what to give each person. 1 Corinthians 12:11

Guess what? That means that you don’t get to choose your gift. In other words, it’s not about you!

Together you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of that body. 2 Corinthians 12:27

All of our gifts work together, and each of us is essential to the fully-functioning body of Christ. You’re human. You’re going to doubt yourself. But don’t doubt God. When you question your giftedness, you question God’s ability and wisdom. He knows what he’s doing. No exceptions.

God expects you to use your gifts for his glory. Your gifts are yours to use, but you’re not the source. God is. He gave you the gifts. He knows exactly where you fit. Let God settle you into your gift as he settles his gift into you.