2:296 – Different Strength, Different Challenges

#faithbites #faithjourney different

Tonight was parent/teacher conferences. It amazed me that even though my kids looked almost identical at the same age, they are so very different in their behaviors and interactions. While the teachers showcased their strengths and differences, they both have compassion and caring for all of God’s children.

In our faith, not one of us will worship, pray, or act the same way. That doesn’t mean we are doing it “right” or “wrong”. If we follow God’s Word, then we are doing it right. He speaks to us in different ways and creates us differently as we serve different purposes. But at the end of the day, if we are serving Him, we are doing it right.

Scripture

But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. – 1 Corinthians 18-26

Reflection

You wouldn’t use a hammer to tighten a pipe. You won’t use a paintbrush to hang a shelf. A pencil is a great tool to mark a line before cutting, but you wouldn’t cut with it. But all of those tools are needed to build a house or finish a project. Likewise, we are all needed to work on God’s plan.

My eldest is into music and art and my youngest is more physically active. Both have purposes and if I allow them to use their gifts in the right way, they will be happy, and God’s work will be done.

The bottom line is even though we are all different and that difference brings challenges, our gifts are unique and perfectly suited for what God wants us to do.

Challenge

Find someone who isn’t like you. Think of what their gift is. Rather than be jealous of it, which is easy to do, think about how it can be used and what challenges they may have. This will show you that we all have strengths and challenges. At the same time, it will demonstrate God has a plan.

Prayer

Father God, you have made us all wonderous and unique. In our culture, we want to put people into boxes with strengths and weaknesses. Help us to realize you never meant us to all be the same. You purposely gave us different gifts to advance your mission. Help us to always be true to our gifts and realize that the gifts of others are as important. Help us to strengthen our friends and assure them they matter, and their gifts are needed. In your wonderful name, Amen.