“Who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to counsel him?” (1 Cor. 2:16)
There is a subtle temptation in the spiritual life to ask God to bless our plans rather than to discover His. We see a portion of the landscape; He sees the whole horizon. We know our gifts; He knows why He gave them.
What power is released when our natural abilities are surrendered to God’s purposes.
A person may possess the gift of leadership, teaching, craftsmanship, hospitality, music, or encouragement. Used for personal advancement alone, these gifts can achieve a measure of success. But when placed in the hands of God, they become instruments of grace. Ordinary talents are caught up in an extraordinary work.
The saints did not become holy by acquiring different gifts than the rest of us. They became holy by offering what they had to God with trust and generosity. Their lives remind us that fruitfulness is not found in determining our own mission, but in consenting to His.
The Lord wastes nothing. Every strength, every experience, every skill has been entrusted to us for a purpose. The question is not, “What do I want to accomplish?” but rather, “How does God desire to use what He has given me?”
There is great freedom in this posture. We no longer need to carry the burden of directing our own destiny. Instead, we can faithfully offer our gifts each day and allow God to weave them into His greater design.
The Creator knows what His creation is for.
And when our gifts are united to His will, we discover that the greatest fulfillment is not found in doing what we want, but in becoming what He intended all along.
