Bravery is a
gift. Some come by it naturally. As children, you see them climb things, jump
from things and are willing to try things.
When they hear how they could get hurt and are made to stop, it can be
done with loving intention, but it can also be over-done. It can be instilling
fear and taking away confidence from the one born brave. The brave go where
most won’t and as adults they often save lives, change lives and build lives: fearlessly.
Sensitivity
is another gift. A sensitive child may cry over others’ pains and are easily
upset. “Don’t be such a cry-baby,” or “You’re being too sensitive,” are
frequently said with intentions to toughen the sensitive one up so that they
suffer fewer tears. But, the sensitive ones are to grow up to be the
compassionate ones. They are the ones that give mercy, comfort and grace. They
often have the vision to see more and go deeper. They are the ones that offer
hope to others, encourage and call out injustice because they sense the depth
of it enough to do something about it.
The “Thief’s”
trademark is to try to steal the very gifting that God created in you. Not only
can the stealing and destroying attempts happen during childhood, but it can also
happen in adulthood.
Christ says
in John 10:10 NLT The thief's purpose is
to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying
life.
When we live
out our gifting we are living a rich and satisfying life. Your gifts are to
bless others. It could be teaching, or writing or care-giving. It could be some
sort of rescue or restoration work. Planters bring about harvesting. Maybe it’s
organizational gifts that are helpful for all kinds of matters or giftings in
making things, fixing things or creating beautiful things. Your gifts are most
satisfying when they are appreciated by someone else.
Becoming
aware of how things can be misinterpreted in childhood can now encourage you to
guard your words carefully with children. It can open your eyes to see
potential traits in children as gifts and not see them as negatives to be
squelched, but nurtured in positive ways. Or, it can help you move past the
things that you were told as a child, that were contrary to who you are.
Think of
yourself. Are there gifts that have been kept from you using them in any form
because of discouragement, distraction or disappointments? Set time aside to
allow yourself to do some things in the area of your gifting. God has an incredible way of restoring these
in you again and can bring about an even greater intensity, drawing out a pent
up passion in you for the gifting. From there, that passion and gift can be something
that impacts others’ lives.
A great way
to start to dabble in some gifting areas again may come by joining a club or
doing volunteer work in the areas that interest you. If music is something you
are good at, there are many senior residences that would welcome a bit of music
as well as children’s organizations. There is a world out there that could use
more of what you are able to give.
Get your creative thoughts going on this by
making a simple prayer asking God to restore the fullness of the gifts. Ask Him
to open up ways to use them. He loves
the conversation and the desire you have to use what He gave you. Our gifts are
given to us to share and are meant to impact the world around us in our lives.
It is part of God’s plan when He instilled those in you.
In as much
as there is a Giver, there is the “taker.” Keep your eyes sharp and know where
the opposition comes from. When you recognize the tactics of the taker you can achieve
an even greater determination to continue toward the goals of using your gifts
and push past discouragement, distraction and disappointment.
Shame has
kept many people from moving into a relationship with God. Shame, to the point
of weariness makes people feel that their worth is less and they could not
possibly do anything to better another person. This is where Christ came in to
set us free from the weight of sin and shame and offered you His gift of
salvation. We can live in peace and comfort knowing that we are right with God,
because we can’t do it on our own. It is His gift of love for a rich and
satisfying life. He conquered the enemy of our spirit.
There were
gift taking attempts in the Bible. Delilah cut the hair of Samson and stole his
gift of strength for a time. Later, his hair would grow back and he would collapse
the columns upon his enemies. John the Baptist had the gift of leading people
to turn from sin and live for the LORD. When John said to Herod that it was not
right for Herod to take his brother’s wife, that wife wanted the voice of John
the Baptist and his convictions stopped. She had him beheaded. But later Jesus
would say that there had never been anyone up until that time as great as John
the Baptist. The records of John’s words have been written for over two
thousand years and are still known today.
His death did not stop the power of his gift. Both Samson and John lived
their gifts to the end. David was a brave leader as a boy and Goliath tried to rob his
confidence with intimidation. Solomon was given the gift of wisdom when he asked for it.
Mary Magdalene knew the gift of how to rest and be in peace from the past demons she had
delivered from her and move forward in relationship with Christ, freed and
unashamed.
The
victories of overcoming and the power of God’s given gifts being resurrected in
these cases are hope for you to reach into your areas of gifting and allow God
to use them. What could be resurrected
in you again?
As an oak
can be cut down, its roots go deep and it can sprout new life again. The Bible
says in Isaiah 11:1 There shall come
forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear
fruit. This verse was prophesying about Jesus coming from the family line
of Jesse, King David’s father.
Let the life
of God, in His repeated examples of bringing back to life the things that are
good and given, be an encouragement to you. Your gifts are within you and can
be used to bring enjoyment to you in your life and be appreciated by others to
fulfill the very things you were born to live out.
