When Gifts and Skills Collide

Over the years, you have probably worn a lot of hats. Each hat has come with baptism in fire, hard earned tools and learnings that prepared you for the next step, the ability for growth and the wisdom to be less encumbered thanks to the painful cost of past mistakes. In short, you've become an expert in your knowledge base.

That drive to be an expert came from an interest, a passion and when those things were paired with drive, you became unstoppable on some level in that area. From there, we develop, we hone and we teach.

But then we build and we grow, and sometimes, our area of expertise needs to change, whether the world changes, our organization changes or even our assignment changes. In the case of our ongoing sanctification, if we are not careful, those skills can hinder spiritual growth, not only in ourselves but in those around us.

Let me explain. When I was early in my career, I went into a feedback session feeling like a superhero. Numbers were great, retention was steady and I was delivering. I was surprised to be told in that meeting that I needed to be better at receiving feedback. My numbers were great and I was a high performer- in part because I took what I heard and did something about it.

So where was the problem? My leader noticed I only responded to feedback selectively. If I thought you knew more than me and added value, then I wanted your insight, a relationship with you, and to listen. If we were peers or you reported me, if I held you in less esteem, then your feedback wasn't coming from a place I deemed worthy of credibility. Essentially, I listened and was teachable if I thought you were worth it. Ouch.

Painful to accept, (and honestly internally validating my behavior because why should I listen to someone like that?) Jesus sent me on a journey to begin to see people as more than a seat, a single metric, or a personality. He started to show me all the brokenness people were giving me grace over. Wow. I sit here today knowing I need so much grace.

With so much scripture regarding gifts, God makes it clear in His word he gifts us with much that we cannot explain and He calls us to uniquely use those gifts, as well as callings and nudges from Holy Spirit, to use them as encourages for each other.

Those people around me were trying to grow me. They wanted to help me and the mission succeed. They were gifted the role and called to invest in, and my personal perception became irrelevant if I wanted to grow. They wanted the best for me.

Spiritually the same applies. Our skillsets and training in the world's eyes can make us feel beyond the mentorship and care when we are on spiritual journeys. If we approach our growth in this way, however, we run the risk of missing out on a blessing, a transformational word, and wise guidance sent to us.

Gifting trumps skillset, because in the spiritual, God gives in ways the natural cannot overcome. I can train all I want, but I will most likely never beat Hussein Bolt in a foot race. When we're in leadership or the expert in the room, this can feel disorienting. So as always, we are given an opportunity to die to self, to connect relationally, and to be used in ways we've never been used before for the glory of His kingdom and our own growth.

The outcomes and growth are left to us. Do we give any thought to what is presented? Do we brush it off? Do we choose to listen, think and discern with Holy Spirit the opportunity for growth presented? We have the privilege of choice, and whether we value everything given, the ability to receive and decide what to do with information is part of that. Not allowing that process is the only loss we face.

Look around yourself? Who have you ignored who could teach you? Who have you held back based on lack of skillset in comparison to yourself, but clearly has a gifting? Ask God, who you need to hear from today.