Quote:

“We don’t choose our talents; but we needn’t hide them in a napkin because they aren’t what we want.” –  Louisa May Alcott, Little Men

Context:

This quote honestly doesn’t look like much at first. You don’t look at this little sentence and fall back into your seat, reeling after reading such powerful words. It isn’t what you’d call an immediately resonating quote. But that doesn’t make it any less important. In some ways, I even think this little quote has more to say than some of the longer, more important-sounding ones. 

All of us, as human beings, want different things out of life. Maybe we want a family, maybe we want a successful career, maybe we want fame. Some of us feel led by the Lord to do big things such as work as a missionary or plant a church, and some of us may just want to have children. However, there’s something almost every single one of us wants: we all want to make a difference. 

Even us, as Christians, can say that we too desire to make a difference in some way. But sometimes we feel so inadequate to do anything that could possibly make a difference. At times like this, it’s easy to look at ourselves and see all the reasons we aren’t capable or worthy, or how we could never serve the Lord in any important ways. It seems hard to do anything good for the Lord when you don’t have any of the right skills.

But here’s the thing. We are all capable of serving the Lord and of making a difference. We just don’t all do it in the same way. God has given us the incredible gift of being different from anyone else on the face of the planet – uniquely His. And though this sometimes can seem like an obstacle that’s holding us back, it’s actually a blessing in disguise. God gives each of us our own abilities and talents for a reason: because He has different purposes for different people. 

I was questioning my own usefulness to God a few months back. I was confused how  my gift – writing – could possibly give glory to God. I wished more than anything that I could have the gift of conversing easily with people instead. I mean, what use are words on paper to the Lord? 

But then I listened to a podcast where they were interviewing the singer of a Christian rock band, and he was telling this story about how one lady living a very sinful lifestyle had heard one of his songs, and ended up giving her life to Jesus because of it. And you would have never guessed that song would have done it.

That’s when it really clicked for me: We are not the ones working our talents out.  It’s God working through our talents. God can and will use anyone, with any skill set, to do His work, for His glory. 

I knew then, that if God had wanted to work through me by having me talk easily with people, He would have given me that ability. As it is, He has given me the ability to write. So I know that He wants me to write with everything in me, so that He can work through those words. God gives us our talents for a reason: to serve Him. 

Even if this quote is not immediately noticeable, it is meaningful and impactful. Because it reminds us that we have been given talents for a reason, and that God can do great things with them, as useless as they may seem. 

Written by: Amara Ader