We all have different talents and gifts to use. Whether it is athleticism or organization, each of us is gifted. In ministry our gifts and talents come together to glorify God and build His kingdom. God was purposeful in making each of us different. Each of us is in need of others to grow deeper in the knowledge of Him personally, but also to combine our talents to move forward for a shared Kingdom impact. To maximize our capabilities we need to have an awareness of not only our strengths but also our weaknesses.

When we identify our strengths we are on the path of deeper understanding of who God has created us to be and the purpose He created us for. We can use our natural tendencies, affections, talents and values to guide us in the right direction to where God would have us. A boundary can be created to limit those things in our lives that drain us and take away from our strengths. I believe we are all leaders, yet we all demonstrate our leadership capabilities differently. Identifying those strengths we are able to live in the sweet spot of life, both in relationship with God and with other people.

Determining our strengths and values can be done when finding our weaknesses. Make of list of what irritates you, when do you get angry, or those moments you want to let out all those four letter words you still remember. For me I know that the worst place for me to be is sitting in traffic. All the rage comes to the surface. I’ve come to learn that it isn’t because I am sitting in traffic or staring at the back of the same car for an hour. It is the idleness, the fact that I could be getting something done, that irritates me. Understanding this I can learn to shape my drive home, time it better, or listen to a book on tape or a sermon of my favorite pastor. I am able to turn a huge negative into something productive.

I’ve learned not to try to make my weaknesses stronger though. I am trying to maximize my strengths, understand my weaknesses, and leverage them with the people I surround myself with. For instance, I was asked to create a logo for our youth group. It sucked. I am, by no means, a graphic designer. I could’ve gotten angry but instead I learned a lesson. We got a graphic designer who is involved in our church to help out. Sounds simple but I forget that I don’t have to carry the world on my shoulders, that people can do things better that me, and that is ok. It was humbling and I learned from it.

Take time to think about what makes you unique. Identify your strengths and your weaknesses. In what situation has God placed you in to use your talents now, at this moment, and who has He placed alongside you to support your weaknesses.