Who are you? You could answer that question a million different ways. Mother, wife, sister, daughter, blogger, writer, administrator, caretaker, chef, PTA president, lawyer, clerk and/or minister. Women have so many cookie cutter roles in today’s world it’s hard to keep up with our own uniqueness.
What is it that’s unique about you? Do you have a unique gift or talent? Is it that mesmerizing storytelling you do? Is it your uncanny ability to see into a person’s soul? How about your flare for style? Do the words you write minister to hearts? Are children drawn to you? Does your paint brush flow beautifully across the canvas? Are you a natural leader or a “get her done” behind the scenes kind of gal?
Whether you can see it or not God has created you uniquely special to contribute something great to your world. Your world may be your home, office, community, church, blogging community, family, or friends. Think about your sphere of influence. That’s your world.
The key to finding your unique gifts and talents is to think about what makes you passionate.
What career would you choose even if you received no pay for doing it? You’d do it just because you love it. For instance I’m doing mine right now. I write… for free… a lot. However I love it and I know God has called me to write for His kingdom. So I write whenever and wherever I can. I also have a passion to teach others so I do it. Only the Lord could place such strong passions inside me and because I love Him I follow His lead and do it.
Another way to find your uniqueness is to listen to what others say. “You’re a really good listener.” “Thanks for encouraging me. I feel so much better.” “Thanks for helping me solve this problem.” “We all think you should take charge of this project.” “I needed prayer and I knew you were the one to call.”
If you hear the same things over and over it could be confirmation of a certain gift. Be aware of how God is using you in the lives of others.
I have the gifts of encouragement and pastor/shepherd. God uses me to help encourage others to see their worth and value and to give them support in life. It can be overwhelming if I don’t set boundaries but He is guiding me through that process.
There is no greater joy than sharing your passion with others. They are blessed and God is glorified through you. But sometimes I wonder if what I do is done in vain because I don’t see results. I begin to doubt. Doubting is a lack of faith. A lack of faith weakens the passion for my calling. My enemy is happy and I am on my way to defeat. However I thank my Savior Jesus Christ that greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4 So it is when the Holy Spirit reminds me of Who’s I am and why I’m here that the doubt subsides. Faith takes over and I begin to live out of the passion inside me again.
Join me and many other unique women around the world in living out your passions for God’s kingdom. I promise you will not regret moving ahead on this one.
What are your unique gifts and talents and how is God using you in your world? I’d love to hear about it.
Leave a Comment
Amy Hunt says
What a fabulous post! Packed with truth, encouragement and hope!
Rich blessings as He leads you closer to Him in all you do!
julie moore says
Amy thank you so much. Blessings to you too!
Kim says
Thank you, thank you for this post! So encouraging! I love when I hear God’s voice telling me to stay the course even when I feel like it’s not going any where.
julie moore says
I know Beth it’s the best thing when I hear Him speak and I know I’m following my calling.
beth willis miller says
I so-o-o-o relate your post…about writing because you love it…at our local Christian Writers’ Group meeting last month, one writer who only writes articles for local newspapers and magazine for pay, asked those of us who write blogs…”Why do you write, what’s in it for you?” and most of us responded, “the warm feeling that comes from knowing that God is using us to encourage others…especially when they leave a comment to let us know.” So thank you for your post today, you have encouraged me to keep on writing even when I receive no pay for doing it 🙂
julie moore says
I’m so glad you have been encouraged Beth. When we do for Him it makes it all worth it doesn’t it?
Stephanie says
That you so much for this wonderful post. Isn’t it ironic how we can start doing something, anything, for the sheer joy it brings us or because we feel called to do it but then, all too soon, we feel we need other’s approval to feel validated or worthwhile in our efforts? I have always loved to write. I love it because of the creative and freedom it lends. I wrote a lot in high school (for personal reasons and for my eyes only). I grew older and life got busy and I stopped writing. I recently started writing again because of heartache, the kind of heartache that is a mother’s worst nightmare. I write because I feel compelled by something greater than me to do it. I write because it has been an unexpected healing tool in my journey of grief. I write because I have found that God has spoken to me through the words I put on paper. I would say it is a passion. I do it for no pay and I would do it if not a single person were to ever read another blog post. Don’t get me wrong, its nice to know others read and they “get something” from it but its not about them. It’s about me and God. It is really all about Him and for Him. Thank you for your reminder and your words today!
julie moore says
Oh Stephanie I so appreciate your transparency. It is all for Him and its great if others read our stuff if that’s the direction God takes it but sometimes its just because WE need to do it. I write for healing and encouragement for myself and others. Thank you so much for your sharing your heart.
Sandy says
This is a question I struggle with daily. Some days I really think I know who “I am”…who God wants me to be; the woman He INTENDS for me to be. Other days…the majority of them, I am ashamed to admit, I have no clue. I struggle constantly to figure out my role…my place in this world. There are things that I *think* I’m good at, but I falter and think that maybe I have it all wrong. *sigh*
julie moore says
Sandy don’t feel alone in this. Most of us struggle with finding our place in this world that’s why I wrote this post. Believe me when I say God created you for a specifc purpose in mind and you are probably already fulfilling it and just don’t realize it. Take these ideas and see if they help you discover something about yourself and I’ll pray right now that He gives you a real peace about the REAL YOU.
Betty Draper says
I often get ask, when did God call you to be a missionary as if being one is at the top of the list. My response is always the same, I was never called but commanded to tell others about His love. Now I am called to be a helpmate to my husband and in that calling my gift of exhortatioin is manifested and I get great peace when I am walking the spirit in that gift. God allows me to write a little, sing a little, encourage a ton, give of my self a ton. Nothing thrills my heart more then to know my God given gift has been used to help someone grow in their understanding of who He is.
I am passionate about being a kind courageous wise hearted woman in His kingdom and can say with freedom God use what ever that takes to make you real in my life. When I trust Him to use me it opens all kinds of possibilities. These possibilities bring me out of depression to run the race He has set before everyone of us. And what a joy to run it with you knowing that when I fall God has already placed those around me who will pick me up, dust me off, give me a cool drink of water and then run beside me. What a team we make, a team that makes the enemy lose his strength, eat our dust and as he is failing others are gaining courage and joining the race. So very grateful for all the post that encouaged, enlighten me, remind me I can finish the race because Christ did.
All you courageous wise hearted band of sisters who put fingers to the key board or paper PLEASE DON’T STOP. I along with others are listening for just one word from Him spoken through you.
julie moore says
WOW! Let me just raise my voice in a loud AMEN! Thank you so much for your encouraging words to continue on this awesome yet sometimes rocky road. Betty you have lifted my heart today/ Thanks.
Julie Sunne says
This post is especially timely for me as I recently began pursuing what I believe is God’s calling on my life-celebrating the lives of all God’s children (even those who are deemed a burden or a tragedy by worldly standards) and encouraging others to rise above their circumstances through the written and spoken word.
However, the enemy is plaguing me with doubts. As you mentioned, it is only by reminding myself that I am a daughter of the King and am placed here to bring Him glory that my passion and courage return.
Thank you for the inspiring words and for the powerful scripture reference: “that greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4)–love that!
julie moore says
The enemy is really good at sending us on the road to doubt which takes us away from our present calling. I’m so glad we have the Holy Spirit inside to urge us back to Him and other sisters in Christ to encourage us to get back to it. Thanks for reading and keep on keeping on Julie!