Use What God Gave You
38 Then Saul clothed David with his military attire and put a bronze helmet on his head, and outfitted him with armor. 39 And David strapped on his sword over his military attire and struggled at walking, for he had not trained with the armor. So David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, because I have not trained with them.” And David took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had, that is, in his shepherd’s pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine. 1 Samuel 17:38-40
Have you ever looked at someone else and thought, if I had their ability, their personality, or their opportunities, maybe God could really use me? Years ago, before I ever went into full-time ministry, I was serving under a pastor I really looked up to. I watched the way he preached, and how he led, and because I felt like God was calling me into pastoral ministry, I think I started believing that I needed to be more like him. Then one Sunday, a lady who had known me for years said something I’ve never forgotten “You be the pastor God called you to be don’t try to be him, use the gifts God gave you.” Those are words I have never forgotten. Looking back, I think she put her finger on something I really needed to hear. I could learn from other people, but I wasn’t called to become them and neither are you.
That reminds me of David standing in Saul’s armor. Before David faced Goliath, Saul dressed him in his own armor David tried it, but finally said, “I cannot go with these, because I have not tested them.” 1 Samuel 17:39. Then Scripture simply says, “So, David took them off.” There was nothing wrong with Saul’s armor it just wasn’t David’s. David already had something God had been preparing him to use a sling, it didn’t look impressive beside Saul’s armor and sword, but David knew what to do with it. Years of tending sheep and protecting the flock had prepared him for that moment. What looked ordinary to everyone else was something God had already placed in David’s hands.
I think we can miss that in our own lives. We look at somebody else and think, If I had their ability, If I could speak like them, If I had their personality, If I had their opportunities, If I had what they have, then maybe God could really use me.But maybe God isn’t asking you to wear someone else’s armor maybe He is asking you to faithfully use what He has already placed in your hands. Maybe it’s your ability to listen, maybe you are good at encouraging people, maybe you can teach, organize, fix things, cook, serve, lead, or simply notice people others overlook. Maybe God has brought you through something difficult, and now you can walk beside somebody going through the same thing. Maybe it’s a relationship He has given you, an opportunity, a skill, a conversation. Something that seems ordinary to you may be exactly what God wants to use. So, instead of asking why didn’t God give me what they have? Try asking, God, how do You want to use what You have already given me?”
David’s sling didn’t look impressive next to Saul’s armor, but God didn’t need David to be Saul and God doesn’t need you to be somebody else.
Be faithful with what He has already put in your hands and trust Him with what He can do through it.
Until next Monday, keep pouring into what matters.
Pastor Dave