Here I Am, Lord. Use Me.
Who needs stamps anymore? Well, I did. I had some business mail to send and I needed a stamp… just one. Now, I could’ve gone to the post office or even to the ATM. Did y’all know that ATM machines sold stamps? Well, they do! But since I only needed one, I felt that would’ve been a waste. Anyhoo…
I had to have this envelope in the mail before the end of the business day. My mom came in town that same day and as she was settling in, I thought to ask her if she had a stamp. She checked her purse and pulled out this old stamp book with one lonely stamp still attached to the paper.
As she looked up at me, she said, “Do you know how long I had this stamp? It must’ve been just for you.” Of course I didn’t, but apparently, she’d had it almost to the point of forgetting, until I asked her for it. The last stamp in the book, set aside just for me to use.
No Purpose Wasted
See, I had a hard deadline to meet with that envelope. Yes, I could’ve gone and purchased an entire book of stamps, but I didn’t need that many. My mom had just what I needed.
When God provides, He never over gives. There is always a measure that is just right for you. That stamp was proof… similar to the gifts that God gives us.
If He were to give us too much, we wouldn’t be able to handle it all and something would be forgotten or go unused. If I had purchased a book of stamps, the remaining 19 would have gone unused. They would have stayed in my wallet until the cost of postage increased – annoying.
I want you to understand that the gifts within you are all meant to be used. There is nothing in you that God doesn’t know about or have plans for. There is purpose in you that you may have almost forgotten about, but He hasn’t. And, know that He has you set aside so that He may work through you as you utilize those gifts.
So, What’s the Play Call?
I know you have a lot going and you have deadlines to meet. I know you may feel like you’ve got too much going on to be used, but God didn’t make a mistake with you. You know just one stamp can take a letter across the country, right? He gave you that one “stamp” to let you know that the amount that He gave you will take you far. Here are a few things to remember when you feel short on postage:
- God created you so He knows just what to do with you. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11
- He fully intended to give YOU that gift. Sometimes we question if God really meant to choose us for a thing because of our feelings of inadequacy. We may even know of others that seem more fit for the job than we are. “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” Romans 11:29
- Your gifts will bloom in perfect time. It may seem like God is using everyone else in their gifts and calling – and you’re left behind. Know that there’s an appointed time for your gifts to shine and glorify God. “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end, it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Habakkuk 2:3
- Every gift you have is just right because God created it. Let Him show you how to use your gift and where to take it. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17
Don’t stop your journey, God has put His stamp of approval all over you. He has already equipped you to use each gift He’s given you. Please don’t shy away from what is in you, there are people counting on your obedience.
