This past Sunday as Pastor Jason took us through 1 Peter 5, I was really appreciating the way that God had to work in Peter’s heart in order for him to write the words in verse 8: “be sober-minded.”
Peter was an emotional guy, always wearing his heart on his sleeve, and often acting before even thinking! But it is beautiful to see how God took someone like that, and made him a mouthpiece for God’s grace…instructing the church to watch, to wait on the Lord, and to be careful and vigilant.
I think that we, like Peter, often look at the rough parts around our edges. We think that those parts of our personality that are hard to work with are something that even God can’t work with. But look what Jesus did here…he took the most outspoken, reactionary and emotional disciple…and turned him into a teacher of patience and wisdom, discernment and strength on the battlefield.
Maybe you can think of one or two things about you and you feel like they are “too much” for God to use. I know for me, that was often the fact that many labeled me “sensitive.” My soft heart became the butt of many jokes, and harsh words were thrown my way that I just couldn’t handle things the way other people could. It weighed heavy on me, and I even tried to be someone else for awhile…toughing it out in front of others to appear strong. Until I realized that God could actually turn my sensitivity into a gift that was used for His glory. Now, I actually appreciate the gift of sensitivity God has put inside me. Sensitivity unchecked by the Holy Spirit is just sensitivity, but sensitivity empowered by the Holy Spirit became a spiritual gift.
Whether you are like Peter; reactionary and emotional…or maybe even subdued and quiet, whether you are deeply sensitive or led by the facts and logic — God can work with that! He can grow you, and shape you, and use the unique personality He placed inside of you to display His glory.
Maybe the gifts waiting inside of you are forged through the unique parts of you that you may have viewed as disposable. God never makes mistakes in the way He crafts each unique person.
This week, I challenge you to look at the things you’ve always wanted to “change” about yourself. Then, present them to the Lord and ask Him this:
Can you use this Lord?
What might you want to do with this?
How can I grow towards you?
Like Peter, even we can be His vessels of grace.
Peter was an emotional guy, always wearing his heart on his sleeve, and often acting before even thinking! But it is beautiful to see how God took someone like that, and made him a mouthpiece for God’s grace…instructing the church to watch, to wait on the Lord, and to be careful and vigilant.
I think that we, like Peter, often look at the rough parts around our edges. We think that those parts of our personality that are hard to work with are something that even God can’t work with. But look what Jesus did here…he took the most outspoken, reactionary and emotional disciple…and turned him into a teacher of patience and wisdom, discernment and strength on the battlefield.
Maybe you can think of one or two things about you and you feel like they are “too much” for God to use. I know for me, that was often the fact that many labeled me “sensitive.” My soft heart became the butt of many jokes, and harsh words were thrown my way that I just couldn’t handle things the way other people could. It weighed heavy on me, and I even tried to be someone else for awhile…toughing it out in front of others to appear strong. Until I realized that God could actually turn my sensitivity into a gift that was used for His glory. Now, I actually appreciate the gift of sensitivity God has put inside me. Sensitivity unchecked by the Holy Spirit is just sensitivity, but sensitivity empowered by the Holy Spirit became a spiritual gift.
Whether you are like Peter; reactionary and emotional…or maybe even subdued and quiet, whether you are deeply sensitive or led by the facts and logic — God can work with that! He can grow you, and shape you, and use the unique personality He placed inside of you to display His glory.
Maybe the gifts waiting inside of you are forged through the unique parts of you that you may have viewed as disposable. God never makes mistakes in the way He crafts each unique person.
This week, I challenge you to look at the things you’ve always wanted to “change” about yourself. Then, present them to the Lord and ask Him this:
Can you use this Lord?
What might you want to do with this?
How can I grow towards you?
Like Peter, even we can be His vessels of grace.
Erika Pizzo
Erika is an author of various books on the topics of faith, mental health, and victory in Christ. Erika lives with her husband, daughter, son, and their fluffy poodle in sunny Southern California. Her two favorite things are a visit to the beach and a chai latte in hand.