Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts When You Feel Ordinary and Unqualified
Can I tell you something I wish someone had told me years ago? You don’t have to feel special to have a purpose. That’s the truth I wish I’d carried earlier. So many of us want to begin discovering your spiritual gifts, but we tell ourselves we’re just too ordinary. Or worse, that someone else is already doing it better. Can you relate? I know I can.
In our recent podcast episode, I shared about these seasons I call “yes, but not quite.” It’s where you know God has put a promise in your heart or whispered a calling—but you feel stuck in the in-between, ordinary moments. Those days where the highlight is maybe getting the laundry done or surviving another Monday, remind us that God can carry us through hard times, Finding hope after loss. And yet, this is exactly the space where discovering your spiritual gifts starts to get real, deepening your relationship with God.
What Does Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts Really Mean?
Let me be honest about something. There was a season when I believed spiritual gifts were reserved for the bold and brave—the women on stage, the leaders with all the answers, the ones who glow with confidence—but there is value in discovering purpose in suffering, as discussed in Finding Purpose in Suffering with Job and Joseph's Stories for Today. (You know the type, right?) But what I missed is that discovering your spiritual gifts is not about standing out. It’s about letting God shine through what feels ordinary in our lives, Spiritual rebuilding after setbacks.
I remember sitting on my couch, feeling confused and out of place when God nudged me toward ministry. I didn’t see what He saw. Birth work was my space. But then, slowly, He made me see that my gift wasn’t about being the loudest. It was about letting Him use even my smallest yes.
How Do You Start Recognizing Your Spiritual Gifts?
If you’re wondering how to begin discovering your spiritual gifts, start where you are and listen for how God is guiding you in everyday moments Hearing God's Voice Daily Even in Unexpected Moments and Ordinary Days. Ask honest questions. What comes naturally to you? Spiritual Encouragement Through Handwritten Notes—What thing do your friends ask you for help with again and again? Sometimes your gifts show up as a kind word, a gentle hug, a knack for organizing chaos, or a prayer whispered in secret. Sometimes it’s your willingness to listen or your eye for details that others miss. Don’t ignore those nudges.
- Ask God in prayer to show you where you’re gifted, Christian approach to mental health.
- Listen to encouraging feedback from trusted friends
- Notice what brings you quiet joy even when no one is watching
- Try things that scare you a little but draw you closer to God
It doesn’t need to be spectacular. It just needs to be yours. That’s how discovering your spiritual gifts actually feels—like a quiet nudge you can’t shake.
Why Do We Feel Ordinary When God Calls Us?
I’ll be honest—sometimes I think God should have picked someone else. When I was called out of my comfort zone, every insecurity came bubbling up. But Scripture is clear. God qualifies those He calls. You don’t have to be spectacular. You have to be surrendered.
Second Corinthians 12:9 (CSB) is my lifeline here. “But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” That’s not just encouragement—it’s permission to bring our not-enough and trust Him to do the rest.
Common Reasons We Disqualify Ourselves
Let’s call it out for what it is. Many of us feel stuck because:
- We worry we don’t have the right words or knowledge
- We believe our past mistakes make us unusable
- We compare our gifts to others and always come up short
- We fear that stepping out will end in failure or embarrassment
But here’s the thing: God doesn’t look for perfection. He looks for willingness. If you’re stuck hesitating, remember you only need to take the first step. Discovering your spiritual gifts happens while you walk, not before you begin.
Why Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts Matters for Your Community
This is where it gets good. Our gifts aren’t meant just for our own confidence boost. They change our families, our churches, and our neighborhoods. You using your spiritual gifts—even if it feels small—can spark hope in someone else. I’ve seen it. In conferences, in blog comments, in quiet moments at home. Every yes you say to discovering your spiritual gifts ripples out farther than you think.
Maybe it’s the way you help someone feel welcome at church. Maybe you’re the friend who checks in when you sense something’s off. Or maybe your gift is teaching, creating, praying, or leading quietly in the background. Don’t underestimate the impact you can have. Sometimes what seems ordinary to you is exactly what someone else needed to see God more clearly today.
Ways to Use Your Gifts Right Where You Are
- Start a small prayer group or Bible study (even if it’s just you and one friend)
- Send notes of encouragement to someone who needs it
- Offer practical help—babysitting, meals, or a listening ear
- Share your story (on social media or in real conversation)
And don’t forget—the waiting seasons aren’t wasted. Sometimes discovering your spiritual gifts happens in quiet hallways while you wonder if God forgot your address. He hasn’t.
How to Keep Saying Yes When You Feel Unqualified
If you keep waiting to feel ready, you’ll wait forever. I learned that the hard way. Obedience always comes before clarity. It’s that shaky yes that God loves. The kind where you’re honest about your fears, but you say yes anyway. That’s when discovering your spiritual gifts starts shaping more than just your story. It shapes your legacy.
I see it when women show up to small group not as experts but as friends. I hear it in the way you pray over your children when no one else sees. God doesn’t wait for us to feel perfect—He meets us right in our willingness.
Biblical Encouragement for Ordinary Days
Let me remind you, in Romans 8:11 (CSB) we find, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.” That means even our most ordinary days are full of purpose and power, because He’s living in us. The same Spirit. The same hope. The same strength.
Encouragement for Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts This Week
You don’t need to prove you have something special. You just need to be open to discovering your spiritual gifts and use them, right where you are. That’s how you bless your family, your friends, and your community. Even in seasons that feel like waiting, God is weaving those yes but not quite moments into something beautiful. Every time you step forward, even when you feel small, you are walking in purpose.
So here’s my challenge this week: Think about one small way you can use your gifts in your everyday life. Maybe it’s a prayer, a kind word, or starting something new. Then do it, even if your voice shakes. You are already qualified because God made you on purpose for a purpose. Discovering your spiritual gifts is not about waiting for permission. It’s about showing up as you are and letting Him do the rest.
If you want more encouragement or practical ideas, be sure to listen to our recent episode of "Perspectives Into Practice: The Yes, but Not Quite Season." And let me know—how are you discovering your spiritual gifts right now? I would love to cheer you on. Let’s build a community where everyone’s ordinary becomes extraordinary in God’s hands.
For more insights, check out the full episode here or visit our blog on walking in purpose. And if you’re ready for the next step, our community resources can help you put these perspectives into practice every day.
