Discover Your God-Given Strengths

 

By Andrea Merrell

As the saying goes, “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

Sounds easy enough but not always so easy to achieve. Maybe a better way to say it would be, “Discover your God-given strengths, and you'll always enjoy what you do." How do we find them? Here are three sure-fire ways not to find them:

• Do what you never thought you wanted to do.
• Do what everyone else says you should do.
• Do everything you see others do.

Finding our calling is a matter of discovering our strengths. What we’re good at. What we enjoy. What inspires, motivates, and fulfills us. One writer says that engaging in an activity that makes us feel strong is an indicator of our natural core strengths. Another writer suggests that our work should not be just the thing we do to live but the thing we live to do.

Too many times we focus more on our weaknesses—those things in which we see others excel—and try to improve them rather than concentrating on our strengths and utilizing them to the max. If we continually try to do what we’re simply not good at doing, we’ll spend our life being discouraged and unfulfilled.

I’ll use myself as an example. As part of the staff of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference (ACWC), I admire those who orchestrate the entire conference, lead worship, and give inspiring keynotes. Not to mention those who are gifted at podcasts, graphics, and marketing. 

But those are not my strengths. I’m more of a behind-the-scenes gal who finds great joy in checking people in and making them feel welcome. Doing critiques and meeting with conferees. Mentoring. Using my skills as an editor to help someone else learn, grow, and polish their own skills. Overseeing our devotion contest. Encouraging, praying for, and supporting those who are out front and in charge. Helping out wherever I'm needed. That's my happy place.

Whenever I’m tempted to concentrate more on my weaknesses—while trying to be something or someone I'm not—I only frustrate myself. 

So, my question for you is, what are your strengths? What do you do best? What energizes you and makes you happy? What do you do that blesses and encourages others?

When you find the answers, you have found your God-given strengths and calling. Acknowledge and embrace them.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com and Nick Fewings.