All Creation Sings

"Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy." Psalm 96:11-12

In reflecting on this verse, I pondered how the earth can rejoice and how the trees can sing for joy. How exactly does plant life sing God's praises? It occured to me that the earth glorifies God by doing what it was created to do ... being what it was created to be. The oak tree was created to grow tall and strong. My favorite, the sweet olive tree, was created to give off a sweet, sweet scent. By doing those things, all of God's creations sing God's praises.

Likewise, we glorify God when we do the good work he has created us to do -- work He has prepared us for in advance. I do believe there are things we're all called to do and be as God's children. We're called to worship Him, to glorify Him and to love Him with an undying love. But, we are all unique. We don't all have the same calling. We are not all created to be the same person, to do the same things.

In the business world, the Strengths-based movement is gaining popularity. The premise is that everyone in the world is born different -- we're born with our own personalities, our own strengths and weaknesses. Interestingly, a strength is not something you're "good at" but rather something that makes you "feel strong".

I spent a long time in my early adult life thinking that I had to be "perfect" in order to truly please God (while also knowing that, through faith, I was holy and blameless). But in my pursuit of God, I thought that the mission and quest I was on was to improve all my weaknesses (not just being strong against temptations) and to be strong in every way. My recent studies, however, have given insight into just how different and unique we all are. None of these differences are bad -- no one personality is better or worse than another. Every strength can be used to glorify God or to indulge in sin.

Scriptures say, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10). I believe God prepares us for these good works in two ways. First, through the trials and experiences in our lives, he prepares us for the future works we are to do. But also, as He creates us in our mothers' wombs, He forms us and molds us as a unique being, uniquely created for a certain calling.

So what's the message here? Be who God created you to be! Perhaps you look around you in your church and see people with gifts and talents you just don't have. Maybe you're trying just so hard to "be" like certain brothers and sisters, but this quest drains you and makes you feel weak. Consider for a moment that these paths may not be your calling. Look to God, look to the Scriptures and look inside your heart. What sets you apart from others? What Kingdom works make you feel strong? Embrace these passions and these strengths. They are a sign of what God has prepared you to do!