The Godly Override, Part 2: The Value of No Talent
Welcome to Part 2 of our mini series “The Godly Override”! What is a ‘Godly override’? Well, it is a situation in which a person prepares, plans, has a specific mindset towards, or in some other way goes “this is my life and my philosophy”…and then God steps in with a totally different — but completely better — idea or plan. While this phrase can apply to really anything, the focus for Encouraging Christian Creatives is, of course, that of creativity. Last week we looked at the Godly override when you realize your gift really isn’t your gift, and this week we’ll look at the idea of God calling you to something you have no talent in…and why that’s a really good thing!
A big, forever ongoing debate in the creative community is nature vs. nurture. Talent vs. practice. Which one is the true reason some people are insanely good at what they create? Is talent enough to get by most of the time, or do you need practice? Can you get good at something through practice alone? If you are untalented in something, does that mean you can never, ever be good at it, even with all the practice in the world?
Well…that’s probably going to be a hot-button issue for a long while. There’s really no clean, clear-cut answer, mostly because everyone’s creative journey is different.
However, there is an undeniable truth for the Christian: God can use anyone, at any time, for anything that He has called them to, whether or not they have a ‘talent’ in it.
If God desires to use someone for a creative project, craft, or endeavor that they have zero talent in, they will have a path to success for His Kingdom. Period. All they have to do is take it. And, honestly, it is a beautiful thing to be called to something you were not made for!
Why?
Because it means that you have to step out into a lot of faith.
A lot of faith.
Which is part of the reason God calls us to things we have no talent or experience in. Because He knows that we will have to rely completely and wholly on Him to succeed. And that is an amazing faith-builder! Having to sit there and simply trust that God knows what He is doing and what He has called you to because you can’t do anything on your own? Better than barbells and protein powder for your faith muscles!
Now, this doesn’t mean you can shrug off practice, or that He will miraculously provide all of the answers — He might, though; it’s definitely not beyond His ability! — but it does mean that if God has called you to something, He has a reason and a rhyme for it. Step out in faith, trust His plan, and His purpose for your life. Being called to something you have no talent in is precious and valuable to your faith and to the faith of those around you!
Putting it into Action
Do you feel like God has called you to something that…you really just don’t understand? Maybe you can’t string two words together in a coherent sentence, but God is telling you to write a novel. Maybe you struggle with drawing the human form, but God has placed a comic book project in your lap. Maybe its even more dramatic than that! Maybe you’re colorblind and God is calling you to be an interior designer! Maybe You were born without hands, but God is telling you to be a sculptor! Regardless of what it is and how many doubts you have about it, if God is calling you to something you have no talent in, He has a good, good plan for you.
If it would help, take this perspective: it’s not about whether or not you have any talent, it’s about whether or not you can humble yourself enough to trust God through the entire process. This is about faith, not creativity! And think about how much glory you will bring God, merely through your obedience! Take heart, Christian, your Heavenly Father loves you!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
“For nothing will be impossible with God.”
