Now Is the Time to Stop Wasting Your Talent

Do you have talent?

Undoubtedly… undisputedly… undeniably… unconditionally… the answer is yes!

The Lord says in Exodus 31:3, “and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills.”

And just in case some may think He wasn’t talking to us in the present day, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Great news! The Bible is still relevant, and God created each of us with unique skills and abilities called talent. Each of us will have opportunity upon opportunity to use this divine treasure trove.

Other (not so great) news is that for different reasons, sometimes we won’t, or we can’t, or we will choose not to use it. Sometimes, we get stuck. It can happen to anyone.

Whether we learn about and develop our talents through family members, in school, in clubs, in church, or through membership in an organization, we have access to our budding talent very early in life. The hope is that someone will water the seed, but that’s not always going to happen consistently.

Talent can be strengthened or enhanced over time, through practice, and with more training. However, unfortunately, its production and growth can also be stunted either by a lack of interest, negative words, or toxic thinking.

Personally, my talents laid dormant for much of my young adult life. Sadly, when I was growing up, my sense of identity was distorted, especially my perception of my strengths and weaknesses. Life happens. There were a lot of distractions. But thank God there was also hope, too.

We’re all on a journey… And years ago, God sent “angels” into my life to water the seeds He planted. They helped me to see myself more as He sees me—a whole person who belongs here (and not just a daughter, a sister, and a friend).

Ask yourself these two questions to help discover your passion.

The “angels” asked me two questions: “What would you do for free, even if it never made you any money or brought you recognition?” and “How do you want to be remembered?” Going through this quasi self-discovery process pushed me to acknowledge things about myself that startled me, including my talent and what truly brought me joy.

After I stopped ignoring what God had placed inside of me, unexpected doors burst open. Before I knew it, I was in places I had never dreamed of going, and favor and invitations flowed almost non-stop. You may wonder how I got there.

It’s not because I’m so special or different. When you identify your talent, then you also discover parts of your identity—courage, confidence, genuineness, etc. A wellspring of energy and strength suddenly shows up in your life. Now I can say, without shame, that I am a writer, a singer, and a public speaker, and that only scratches the surface. One hundred percent—we’re all brilliantly and wonderfully made in God’s image, each of us.

“What would you do for free, even if it never made you any money or brought you recognition?” and “How do you want to be remembered?”

After they’re identified, ask yourself if you’re using your talents in fulfilling ways.

So, I ask you: “What are your talents?” Are you using them, or are you running away from them? Are you wasting them in ways that don’t fulfill you?

If you’re good at cooking, then how are you impacting your world with your recipes, nifty shortcuts, and seasoning skills? Are you known for writing, public speaking, sports, or your administrative or business acumen? What is your strong suit? Let your inner voice speak; what is she telling you? Follow her as she follows Christ. God will give the wisdom to carry out the path He set before us.

Fear and unforgiveness are common roadblocks on this path.

Do you know what I find interesting? For some reason, fear loves talent. F.E.A.R. is “false evidence appearing real.” Have you noticed it, too? Fear is attracted to talent like lightning bugs to a lamp post. Could it be that fear hangs around talent because it’s one of the gateways to freedom… freedom to be who we really are?

Another roadblock can be neglect. I’ve spoken to people who are sitting on their talents because of past disappointments, church hurt, rejection, and even family drama. Focusing on the negative can leave us in a standstill, and it only harms us further.

I’ll be the first to say that one of the steps to my healing and being open enough to allow talent to come through me was forgiveness. I had to let some things go, so that I could be better for me.

When you identify your talent, then you also discover parts of your identity—courage, confidence, genuineness.

If unforgiveness is stopping you, then it’s time to forgive. Move forward. Whatever is hindering you from living your best life, full of promise, let it go. Sure, some of us are very actively pursuing ventures and busy working, using our resources, natural abilities, and skills. We’re very occupied, but are we fruitful?

When we share our talent, the law of reciprocity comes into play. We are giving back to God what He’s given to us. He multiplies what we give in ways we need it most. We may get uncomfortable at times, but we aren’t losing anything, because whatever we put out, He pours more back in.

If you’re not sure where to begin, check out this article by Dr. Zoe. It’s time to utilize your talents and thrive!