Discovering your God-given skills

When I first lost my job, I was full of confidence in my ability to find work. But after the weeks turned to months of signing on at the Job Centre I began to believe that I had nothing of any value to offer my next employer, and that this was the reason I was still out of work.

I want to encourage those of you who have reached the end of your tether and have started to believe this lie. It’s not true, but it can sure feel like it!

The career compass

The good news is that, despite all evidence to the contrary, God has a plan and a purpose for your life that involves you using the God-given skills and abilities he has placed in you. One way to regard our innate skills is to view them as a compass, pointing in the direction in which we’re called to labour.

The fact is, we are all made by God to be unique individuals and do different things. Some are born with a natural ability to create things with their hands, such as an artist or a chef, while others are more suited to academia or the pursuit of scientific knowledge.

Special skills

For the construction of the tabernacle, God told Moses how he had raised up Bezalel with the necessary skills to make magnificent temple ornaments. ‘I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts (Exodus 31:3).

Hebrews 13:21 makes it clear that God has given us everything we need to perform his will. If we’re able to discover where our abilities lie, this will give us some idea about what God wants us to do for a living.

Honest assessment

We all need to be realistic about what we’re able to do. An assessment of our skills may point to a gap that suggests we need to return to college to gain certain skills. This will not only benefit those seeking life direction, but also those who need confirmation that a desire to do something is actually fixed in reality. Will you actually be able to do the job?

On the other hand, it may suggest that we are barking up the wrong tree and are not called to this particular vocation. In this process it’s important that we apply discernment and seek advice from trusted advisers.

Resources to assess our skills

Here are some excellent resources to boost your skills compass. Don’t forget to invite Jesus along with you on your journey!