Spiritual gifts are unique to individual

One of my greatest weaknesses as a Christian is that I have trouble with prayer. It’s not that I don’t pray or that I don’t believe in the power of prayer; but rather, prayer as whole is a really discouraging thing to me.

When I went to Christian school in junior high, we had to keep prayer journals and every day we would write what we were praying. Instead of actually writing a letter to God (because for me personally, I thought that was a bit weird), I would make lists of everything and everyone I wanted to pray for that day.

Eventually, my list grew so long that I got really discouraged by this thought: how am I supposed to pray for everyone and everything that needs prayer?

Even in college, I find myself with the same problem. At my bible study, we take prayer requests.

Often I don’t contribute unless it’s a little request for myself or someone in my family because honestly, once I think of one person—I think of all of them.

I can’t keep up with them all and I feel guilty praying for one person and not praying for others.

Sure, I do pray for specific people every now and then, but every once in a while I still feel discouraged by it.

It’s not that I don’t think God can handle it or that I’m angry at God for letting bad things happen.

I just wish I could spend a good amount of time covering all those I know who are in need.

But then it hit me—I don’t need to feel bad about my lack of ability to pray for a bazillion people.

The Bible even says prayer is a spiritual gift, and those kinds of gifts are unique to individuals.

I have friends who can pray for hours, stay up throughout the night, and then will stop whatever they are doing to pray with you on the spot.

I can’t do that. But at the same time, I have spiritual gifts others don’t have.

I know Christians who are really shy and stay away from conflict. Their spiritual gift is obviously not exhortation. But a lot of those friends end up being good at compassion or service instead.

Both are equally important.

So if you find yourself getting discouraged because you don’t meet up to the standards you think all Christians or members of your religion should live up to, just breathe.

You don’t have to be good at everything. Look at your good qualities and your purpose will slowly reveal itself to you in time.

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