As I sat down to watch The Voice tonight the same recurring thought I have every time I watch this show came to mind, "Gosh, these singers are so much better than me!" Since I was a little girl, I've loved to sing. It was the one thing I felt like I was good at naturally from a young age. My mom drove me to a few singing competitions when I was around 10-13 years old and every time I went to audition, I always heard other wonderful singers who were much better than me.
But that never stopped me from singing. And it didn't discourage me from writing music, picking up the guitar at sixteen and recording my first album during my senior year of high school.
Because I believed that God had a calling on my life. Without that, I would have given up a long time ago.
Sometimes I think we believe that if we are not the best at something, then we shouldn't do it at all. I know I have been discouraged from doing a lot of things because I knew someone else who was better than me at it. Whether it was writing, or photography, or teaching, or singing. I may love to do it, but that isn't always enough for me to step out of the fear that I will humiliate myself by trying.
But God doesn't always call the best.
There is a verse in 1 Timothy that we use often to encourage teenagers to follow Jesus. But when thinking about this insecurity we often face when it comes to our talents and abilities, I sensed God leading me to it.
"Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity." 1 Timothy 4:12
Scholars believe that Timothy was most likely twenty to thirty years old when Paul wrote this to him. Some even say that he could have been as old as 48! A little older than the pre-teen I had pictured in mind. I think this tells us that this verse had a lot more to do with Timothy's inexperience than just his physical age. Paul wanted to encourage Timothy to not worry about people looking down on his skill set or lack of knowledge in certain areas, but instead to live a life of one who is called out by God.
There are so many examples in the Bible of people called by God who were not "the best" in their field. How about the fact that Moses had a speech impediment and yet, was called to preach? And Jonah was called by God to go boldly into the huge city of Nineveh, but was a coward and ran the other way!
There will always be someone better, more equipped, than you.
Our calling is not to seek accolades and awards here on earth. Sometimes we miss that and spend all our life striving for worldly recognition. But we'll never have enough of that (just look at the extremes celebrities go to to get noticed these days) and it will leave us discontent.
Likewise, if we try to run and ignore God's calling on our life to do something great for His glory, that too will leave us discontent.
I sense there are many of you out there who are running from something because of fear. Maybe fear of failing, or just not being good enough. I pray today that you will let go of anything that is holding you back from being all that God has created you for.
Do something today, not because you believe you are the best, but because you believe you are called.
This post is part of a series I’m writing for the month of October entitled “31 Days of Being Content.” See all other posts in this series by clicking here. Or enter your email address in the sidebar on the right to subscribe to this blog and receive posts straight to your inbox!
