We sometimes feel inferior or shy because we feel others are superior or better than us. Even adults are not exempted. Why do we feel so? We are always comparing ourselves with others, and we believe that if someone else is better at a skill like music, sports, math, or public speaking, we must be inferior. Look at it this way – God has a plan and purpose for your life that is different from His plan for that person. The fact that our world glamorizes people with these talents does not mean you are inferior; you can be great in what God created you to do in this world.
Look: God spent the same amount of time to fashion you. You were in your mother’s womb for nine months, just like others. God did not make you as an afterthought. God gives each of us twenty-four hours per day, we all walk or stand on our legs, we all eat with our mouths, and we all go to the bathroom the same way. If man were in control of these things, some people would have to walk on their heads, and some would not even have mouths to eat.
Talents are what God gives you; they come naturally to you, and you don’t struggle as much as others who are not gifted in that area. But remember, God is not expecting the same output if He didn’t give you the same input. What He demands is faithfulness. Jesus used a parable of the talents to illustrate faithfulness in Matthew 25:
Three people were given different numbers of talents by their master. The first person was given five talents of money and he used it and gained five more; the second was given two talents and he gained two more. The third person was given one talent, but he went and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. Remember, these servants were given talents of money according to their abilities. When the master came back and they each rendered their accounts, the master commended the ones who received five and two talents and said, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness” (Matthew 25:21). But the one who received one talent and hid it in the ground received condemnation from his master: “You wicked and slothful servant.” So, be thankful and faithful to what God has given you and stop comparing yourself with others who are more talented than you.
To achieve or accomplish what God has put inside of you, you must trust Him and have passion. What does passion do for you? Passion is drive or zeal; it will challenge you, intrigue you, and motivate you to do what is inside of you. It will cause you to rise early and work late. It will cause you to turn off the television and say to yourself, “I have to study or work.” It makes you willing to sacrifice lesser leisure activities and pleasures.