Gifted By God

Gifted by God

All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

I have a friend who is a really talented writer. She’s a natural storyteller, has a great sense of humor, and her attention to detail and ability to connect with the reader’s emotions make her one of my favorite authors to read. Yet, despite my encouragement, she’s never sought publication—even though she’s confided that it’s a dream of hers. While it may be true that she’s simply too busy, hasn’t had the time to pursue it based on other commitments, or just simply isn’t ready, I wonder if she struggles with imposter syndrome.

It’s a common affliction for people in general and writers in particular. We feel like our writing isn’t good enough or think that someone else is more talented or could do it better. If someone we care about dismisses it as “just” a hobby or belittles it, our self-confidence gets bruised and it confirms our deepest fears. You may not be a writer, but perhaps you struggle with imposter syndrome in other ways—feeling uncertain in your parenting when you see your child’s screaming-in-public tantrum next to another child’s seeming perfection, wondering why someone else got a promotion when you thought you worked harder and longer for it, questioning the choices you’ve made when it comes to your finances or relationships. It doesn’t help that when we look at social media, we see mostly celebration, not struggle.

As friends, let us affirm the gifts and talents that we see in others. Even more, let us go out of our way to encourage our friends to put those skills to use. I recently sent my friend a message, asking how her writing was going and encouraging her to pursue it in a professional capacity. I can’t take the next step—only she can do that—but I can be willing to hold her hand along the way. Each of us is equipped with gifts, qualities, and skills that God gave us on purpose as members of the body of Christ. He knows who we are and, what’s more, he never asks us to be anyone other than who we are.

— Kristin

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

Message or call a friend to tell them three qualities, gifts, or skills that you admire in them.