“God-given gifts are by definition supernatural gifts. Even if they seem common or mundane, we can trust in their ability to work supernatural wonders.”

Many Gifts, One Spirit

Have you ever wondered what God is trying to tell you? Have you ever felt frustrated because you don’t believe God is speaking to you at all? It may be that you just don’t recognize His voice.

God speaks to us through the gifts He has given us. Each one of us is given a unique set of gifts, and there are no small gifts. “To each individual some manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” These gifts are not given to us to hoard and use for our own pleasure, they are given to us to help one another, to benefit the common good. As these are God-given gifts they are by definition supernatural gifts. Even if they seem common or mundane, we can trust in their ability to work supernatural wonders.

Lindsey Stirling

So you’ve taken stock of your gifts, talents, and interests, and made a list. You like to play the violin (electric), you like to dance, you like to make and dress up in costumes, you like to write music, and you think it might be fun to make videos. What do you with such an eclectic list of gifts and talents?

If you’re Lindsey Stirling you put them together and forge a singular career. If you haven’t heard of her then you’re missing out. In 2010 Lindsey was a finalist on America’s Got Talent. For her quarter final performance, she stepped up her attempts at dancing while playing the violin. Admittedly she left room for improvement, but the judges were less than encouraging.

“You’re not untalented, but you’re not good enough to get away with flying through the air and trying to play the violin at the same time.”

“You need to be in a group. … What you’re doing is not enough to fill a theater in Vegas.”

“The world does not want an electric violinist.”

She was understandably devastated. But through determination and some lucky breaks she pushed through that period, honed her skills, developed her talents and gifts, and by 2013 she had produced a studio album that sold more than 158,000 copies in the U.S. alone. When it was announced she would embark on a world tour, some of the performances sold out the first day pre-sales were offered.

She is not only amazingly talented but she is a terrific example of using her gifts to bring happiness and joy into the world. Oh, and along the way she found out she was anorexic so she had that battle to fight as well.

She continues to release videos on her Youtube channel LindseyStomp, here is her “Christmas Card” to her fans.

 Giving Back to the Giver

We cannot give our lives meaning, purpose and  joy by our own efforts, just as the servants at the Wedding at Cana could not provide 25 gallons of wine on their own. But we must still do all we can with what we have been given and let God take over from there. The servants filled the jars with water, and God took the water and turned it into wine. We must develop our gifts through training and education and practice and allow God to work miracles with what we bring to Him.

Our talents are God’s gifts to us, what we do with them is our gift to God.

If you feel that God is not speaking to you perhaps you are simply not listening. What are the gifts you have been given and how can you use them for the benefit of others? God speaks to us through the gifts He has given us, it is for us to listen, and do as He tells us.

this article originally appeared at www.DeaconLawrence.org

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Pontifex University is an online university offering a Master’s Degree in Sacred Arts. For more information visit the website at www.pontifex.university

Lawrence Klimecki is a deacon in the Diocese of Sacramento. He is a public speaker, writer, and artist, reflecting on the intersection of art and faith and the spiritual “hero’s journey” that is part of every person’s life. He maintains a blog at www.DeaconLawrence.org