Ungifted

 I love to see others using their gifts, talents, and abilities to glorify God. I especially enjoy the worship team that leads us each Sunday morning. Christian music holds such power and God works over my heart in powerful ways through music. It touches my soul. When I am alone, at home or in the car, I sing my heart out to God. The problem is that I cannot sing. When I was younger my mom requested I hum in church. Yes, it really is that bad. My lack of musical talent causes me to appreciate other's talents all the more.

Lately, what God has pressed on my heart, is how blessed I have been by the ungifted. The people that use their UNgift and their UNtalent to glorify God. I realize that He calls us to use our gifts and that He gifts each of us according to His will, but when no one steps up to fill in the gap with their gifts, what can you do?

It takes a person that knows who she is in Christ to stand alone in front of a room of humming women and lead us with her UNgift, to sing hymns at the top of her voice, off-key, with both confidence and humility. When I see that UNgift it floods my heart with gratitude, for my sister-in-Christ who, ungifted as me, can move forward boldly, approach the throne, and lift up her inharmonious voice in praise.

While I safely hum among the hummers and sing under my breath with the other women singing under theirs, lacking musical talent or confidence, I feel such gratitude for my new, off-pitch friend that I have to hold back tears. God's question echoes in my heart, "When will I start to use my gift, or even my UNgift, to bring Him praise?"

When will I develop enough confidence in who I am in Christ to use my gifts, let alone my ungifts, to bring others closer to Him? When will I stop worrying about what others think and let God's light shine through me in such a way that other's can only think "Wow. God is amazing."

What is more amazing than a God who can take the part of you that is gifted or ungifted, plain, or beautiful and use it to bless others? I have resolved to at least be bold enough to live out loud while I discover what it is God is calling me to do in this life and in this community. I am determined to use what He calls me to use, whether it is my gift, or my ungift and I am grateful He allows me to appreciate both the gifts and ungifts in others. God is good all the time...