Ask, and the gift is yours. Seek, and you’ll discover. Knock, and the door will be opened for you.
I have never been one who’s had hobbies. When I was younger, I liked to sew and decorate cakes but as I grew deeper into adulthood and all that comes with it, hobbies took a back seat. Once my son was grown it seemed my only hobby was working. Of course, work wasn’t a hobby, but the amount of time and effort I put into it left little time or energy to even want to do anything else.
A few years ago my circumstances changed and I had more time on my hands. Excited about this new chapter in our lives, and more time to enjoy it, my husband and I went for a hike. That day something changed in me. I grabbed my phone to take a photo of a waterfall, and in that moment it was as if the world became alive through that lens. I was seeing God’s creation differently than I had before! From that point on my time was filled with taking photos whenever I could. I had found my hobby, or so I thought. It was more than a hobby – I realized it was a spiritual gift from God. He had opened my eyes to things He wanted me to see in His world and gave me the ability to capture it in the form of photography. I absolutely love walking somewhere where it is quiet and observing everything I can to find that one object that stands out to me. I have such a sense of peace in those moments. The world can be crazy around me but when I am behind the lens of the camera it is me, God, and creation – nothing else.
I have often wondered what God wanted me to do with that gift. How could it better His kingdom? I’ve had many ideas, but nothing seems to pan out – likely because they are my ideas and not His. So, for the last three years I just take photos, grateful for the blessing and patiently waiting for God to reveal His purpose in the gift. However, in the last year something changed – my hands started shaking. Taking photos has become more difficult.
I’ve had a lot of time to process (worry and question) what is happening and why I would be given a gift from God only to potentially have it taken from me. After much exhaustion, I finally accepted where the path is currently leading me and know that He will be with me through, and to, the end. It has not been an easy process, but I am so grateful He gave me this gift to enjoy for however long He chooses. So, I continue to use my gift, enjoying the process, deleting the blurry photos, thrilled with the clear images, and still waiting for God to reveal how this gift will further His kingdom.
Has the world kept you from allowing God to reveal your gift(s)? Has He revealed them to you, but life has been too busy to utilize them? If so, what can you do to change that? If you are not sure, step away from the chaos, quiet your environment, and ask God to reveal them to you. The demands of your life will always be there, but the ability to use your gift to influence the world may not.
