February 18, 2025
Written by First Lady Shanan C. Burress
Have you ever heard the quote, “comparison is the thief of joy”? When we compare ourselves to other people or things, we snatch the possibility of recognizing all that God has created in and for us. It’s easy to look at what other people are doing and say, “wow, I wish I could do that,” or question why God didn’t give us a particular skill set or ability. I’d like to encourage you to NOT compare your life or circumstances to other people.
God has graced each and every one of us with a special gift and we should not discredit His gift by comparing ourselves to other people. There are things that only YOU can do, things that only YOU can achieve and things that only YOU will understand. The gifts that God gives are specific and unique.
It does not matter how old you are, or how young you are, God has given you a gift. Regardless of how shady your past is or the fact that you have just submitted your life to Christ, God has still given you a gift. God has graced you with a gift!
God’s gifts are to used for His glory; to bless and encourage others as well as build up the Kingdom of God. The Bible is very clear that our gift should be used to bless others. I Peter 4:10 says, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”
I’ll say it again, God has graced you with a gift. The gift that God has given you may not be what you asked for or what you would have imagined it would be. But in spite of that, you are gifted!
I remember years ago people were taking surveys and quizzes to help them determine what their gift from God was. I found those quizzes to be so frustrating because they never put me in just one category. My results were always a mixture of categories, which confused me and never really led me to understand my gift.
Much later in life is when I realized one of my many gifts is to listen. And let’s be honest, I should have realized that a long time ago because I really don’t enjoy talking. But listening is something that I can do with patience and I believe it’s a gift from God. In a society where people always are talking, it’s a blessing to have listeners. God has graced me to be supportive and encouraging through just listening to people share. I know it sounds simple but not many people can listen without judgement or listen without feeling the need to insert themselves into the conversation or instantly share their opinions. It’s truly a gift from God.
Just yesterday, I used this gift to listen to a person who inadvertently shared with me a series of personal struggles they were facing. The conversation started out with a short hello and how are you and ended in the person crying as they shared with me details of what they were going through. I did not ask for the details, nor did I offer any of my own comments, I just simply listened. For whatever reason, God led that person to share with me in that manner because God knew the gift that He’d placed in me would provide support and comfort by simply listening.
God has gifted some to be great speakers. Others God has gifted to be amazing listeners. Some people have been gifted to be phenomenal friends (not everyone can say that). God has gifted others to be incredible encouragers or singers and the list goes on. The point is that God has gifted each of us all in different areas.
I encourage you again, do NOT discredit what God has gifted you to do. God has graced you to be you. In His grace, God has allowed us to receive a gift so that we can bless other people. Submit to God’s will and use your gift well!
