How to find your talent

            Someone asked recently how to determine their natural talent  There are several ways to determine this.  The first and best way is simply to ask God. He gave it to you, so I am sure he wants you to discover what it is and use it for His glory and your good. Next is to ask others what they think you possess.  I have had many jobs throughout my lifetime, but only three since I was twenty-four years of age.  Prior to twenty-four I worked in a variety of jobs where I learned what I would not want to do with my life...worked at a golf course (I enjoyed this but it didn't give me purpose or meaning), worked at a gas station (hated this), worked at a salt mine (good pay but factory work was not for me), worked at a bar (enjoyed this one a lot! but after becoming a Christian, learned serving alcohol was not the path God was choosing for me.  What I enjoyed about this job was socializing with the people and sharing our stories); worked as an iron worker with my dad one summer (great money, very dangerous, exhausting..but after the man who drove me to work one morning, fell through the beams and was killed before my very eyes, I knew this career path wasn't for me.)  So how did I know what was for me?  Something that would fit my God-give giftedness?

            Like I said, it could be as simple as asking someone or asking God.  If you are still unsure, then the next step is to ask God to open doors for you to serve Him.  As a result of serving God and others, I believe a person can more readily discern what it is that they do best. When I was a young Christian I became involved in every opportunity that the church had.  From evangelism, to missions work, to Scripture memorization, to working at a Christian summer camp, to teaching Sunday school, I became involved. As I look back, it was this day by day, week by week, month by month involvement with serving the Lord and learning, that my gifts began to emerge.  People began commenting on what a good teacher I was. I began to receive confirmation. But in the end, I learned that I hated to teach...i actually loved to speak and tell stories.  Telling stories that do the teaching can be traced all the way back to my childhood. I loved listening to my mother reading to me...and I loved retelling the story in my own version...always better of course.

            So here I am today at age 52, telling stories...stories that have biblical content (this is what I love most), and stories that can bring healing and change to broken lives.  If you are searching to know your natural talent, then I would start by asking God and others, and then to begin serving and getting involved in as much ministry as possible. 

            After these steps, I would recommend taking the Myers Briggs or the DISC personality tests or the many other skill tests that are available...you can simply ask you pastor to let you know what is available.

            Lastly, I love the encouragement that Psalm 16:11 brings in this quest.  Proverbs is also an excellent source for help in this process of discernment for one's career choice.  Reading Maxwell's book Talent is Never Enough(this will be on our site soon) I highly recommend and one of the best is Finding a Job You Love.