It’s so tempting and easy to think that an outward talent or skill depends on you. For me, this was singing. You might even recognize your gift as something from God in your mind, but in reality it can still feel like, “Well, I’m the one technically doing it.” I have definitely lived in that mindset without even fully realizing it.

But then, starting in 2020, I began dealing with vocal overuse injuries, and I’ve been navigating that off and on for the past five years. That was the first time the idea entered my mind that my voice and my ability to use it to sing and lead worship is not a guarantee. Earlier this year, I had a pretty rough flare up where I was losing my voice randomly. It would get tired fast and harder to control, and I honestly didn’t know what was happening because I had just come off a solid couple of years with no issues. I thought it was something that was healed and behind me. It shook my confidence, and even that scared me, because in my head I knew my identity was not found in my skill set. But singing was always the thing I thought I could rely on, and suddenly I couldn’t. It affected me more than I wanted to admit.

I really believe this is where God met me and began to teach me about humility in a real way. I found myself genuinely grateful any time I got to sing, since it was no longer a guarantee on my own strength and since I had lost my sense of control of my voice for a bit. Losing control of it actually helped detach it from me in a healthier way. It was humbling in a freeing way. It became less about my ability and more about the privilege of getting to worship God in the way I love most.

In 1 Corinthians 4:7, Paul addresses pride in the church of Corinth by asking, “What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you didn’t?”

My passion for worship through music, my love for leading, and even the ability to sing at all are things I’ve received by His grace, for Him, and for others to know Him. When you begin to see your gift that way, whatever it may be, humility and gratitude naturally grow.

It has also been an ongoing journey for me to understand that humility does not mean shrinking back. Humility is not hiding. But it can look similar on the surface, which makes it tricky. Humility is simply having an accurate view of the source of your gift. And I’ve found that when you recognize that, you actually gain confidence and courage to step into your gift and steward it well. You want to grow. You want to take care of it. You want to cultivate what God has placed in you.

Uncommon humility is remembering that the gifts God has given you, whether outward talents like singing or playing an instrument or a sport, or the personality traits and passions He gave you, all came from His grace. When you remember that, you can step into your giftings with a confidence that comes from Him.

Reflection:

What gift has God placed in you that you’ve either held too tightly or held back? What would it look like to receive it again with humility and confidence?