Where Are You Strong?

Chrissy was a fantastic employee. She had almost singlehandedly built her department up from serving 200 clients to 400 clients within a year. She developed ways that the clients would receive unique positive contacts from her employees. She created a database to keep track of client activity so that they could restructure the program if necessary to meet changing needs. Chrissy was soon promoted to a different department to supervise 500 employees and their team leaders. Her days were filled with meetings, budgets, and reports. After two years, Chrissy quit her job. She felt depleted and hated going to work. What happened?

In her first position, Chrissy used her strengths—she was a pioneer, a developmental guru. Her second job was to keep the status quo intact. She had the giftings for the first job but not for the second one. Sometimes promotions to higher positions are not the best use of our gifts.

Where are your strengths? Look at some examples in the Bible to help you sort through the gifts God has placed in you. The following show successful biblical women who used their gifts within a special role.

1. Pioneer – Sarah – went into the unknown and with her husband created a new nation.
2. Deliverer – Esther – had courage to face obstacles, saving people from slavery and death.
3. Conqueror – Deborah – was able to face enemies and obtain victory.
4. Ruler – Queen of Sheba – was a wise ruler who was capable of leading people.
5. Servant – Ruth – was able to adapt to situations and serve where she was able.
6. Helper – Miriam – knew how to make the most of being in the right place at the right time.
7. Evangelist – Lydia – made herself available to meet and help others to hear the Gospel.
8. Financier – Phoebe – was a wise investor and financier and generously gave to the ministry.

Chrissy would have been called a Sarah—she loved to create and pioneer. When she was asked to be a queen of Sheba, she was unfulfilled and lost.

Sometimes, in the competitive atmosphere of the marketplace, you can lose sight of who you are made to be. Climbing the ladder does not necessarily make use of your gifts, nor does it fulfill God’s plan for your life. How can you use your strengths for God’s glory?

First you need to discover your role. Look at the simplistic examples above. Think about who you resemble the most. Don’t look at who you would like to be…look at who you are and have been. Where do you feel the most fulfilled?

Knowing your gifts means you do not fit into every scenario. You may have a combination of two roles above. You may have characteristics of all of them when God brings them forth. But you should be able to see God’s grace flowing through you in one or two of them at a greater level. Operating in these roles demonstrates aspects of God’s character. By using those gifts that come with your personal call, you testify about God.

Your role can flourish in many ways, within a myriad of occupations. For example, someone who is a helper, could work as a nurse, an administrative assistant, or TV director. You just need to judge if the career requirements will allow you to flourish in your gifts. You also can move up the career ladder based on the job requisites. For example, an accountant with the rule and reign gift could be called to lead a division of a large company as the finance manager.

We also need to know our roles within the church setting. I have seen people fail at leading ministries within churches but become incredibly successful when they lead overseas missions. They just don’t fit into the Western ministry structure with their entrepreneurial, evangelistic gift. We need to measure people’s worth, not by our own gifts or standards, but by God’s treasure within them. This also releases us to not think being an elder or pastor in a church is our personal ultimate goal when it would cause us stress and unfulfillment.

God has reserved a unique and special way for you to fulfill your Earthly assignment and serve God’s kingdom. Enjoy what gifts He has given. Use them every day in some way. Learn to discover opportunities for

His grace to shine through your divine role. The Lord will tell you, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” When you feel the anointing of God run through you, it is so much better than any accolade you can receive from people.

You are a strongly gifted woman! Go forth and release your gifts!