Understanding how to invest your time only happens when you recognize what gifts God has given you. Identifying your strengths helps you identify your purpose. The other day my daughter asked me, “Daddy, are there some people that don’t have any talents?” I quickly answered, “Everyone has talents.” She then responded, “Yeah, but, some people might not have any talents, right?” I said, “Baby, God has given everyone talents, literally everyone.” But she kept pressing on, “I know, I know, but there has to be someone without talents, right?” I optimistically responded again, “EVERYONE has talents. Besides, with God all things are possible, so anyone can have talents!” She quickly said, “So it is possible that someone may not have talents then, right?” I did not know how to respond.

We all question whether or not we really have enough talents and giftings. Sometimes, like my daughter, we just cannot believe that we have what it takes to accomplish all that God has for us. We keep saying, “Yeah, but…” We believe other people are gifted, but when it comes to ourselves, we tend to overlook our greatness. We see everyone else’s uniqueness at work, but we can easily fail to see ours. In fact, King David had a revelation about his greatness in the Psalms. 

Psalm 8:1-8

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

David understood man’s important role. He realized his significance on this earth. It is impossible to improve upon something you are not aware of. Like David, we must recognize our value. Without the vision to see our strengths, we will never know what they are. Therefore, we will not know how to leave a legacy. We have to take time to look within ourselves and discover what we have been gifted with. Most people make this process harder than it really is. Understand that our gifts are not tiny needles in a giant haystack. Our God-given gifts are found the things we excel in. They are our strengths and talents. To discover your gifts, ask yourself these questions: 

• What do people come to me for? 
• What do people consistently thank me for? 
• What comes naturally and easily for me? 

The answers to these questions give us insight into our gifts. The things that draw us in and the things we do well indicate our God-given abilities. Take some time to reflect upon your strengths and ask others what your strengths are. You may recognize gifts you never knew you had. You have been created as a one-of-a-kind masterpiece endowed with greatness. Ask God to help you recognize your strengths. When you find your strengths, you know how to leave your legacy. You will be remembered for the difference you made; this difference will always be connected to your gifts. 

Discover your strengths, develop your potential, and do great things!