Don't hide your talents | Day in the life RCD
Today I went to church, and the service was really beautiful. The priest reminded us that next week we are preparing to close out the liturgical year, and the week after that, we begin the season of Advent. Naturally, it puts you in a reflective headspace—looking back at how you’ve spent the year and how you’re preparing your heart for what’s ahead.
During the homily, he spoke about the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30). He pointed out something important: in the context of that Scripture, a "talent" wasn't originally about whether you can sing or dance—it was a measure of money and material resources. Some were entrusted with five, some with two, and one was given a single talent.
The message wasn't about how much you were given; it was about what you did with it. You are meant to multiply it and put it to use—not dig a hole, bury it out of fear or hesitation, and hide what the Lord has entrusted to you.
That message really sat with me today because it’s something I have been wrestling with myself.
Even though the parable speaks in terms of material resources, the truth behind it applies to every gift God places in our hands—especially the ones we rarely recognize as "talents." We live in a world that celebrates loud, obvious skills, so many people overlook the quieter gifts they carry and don't realize how much those gifts can help others or contribute to society.
Think about it:
• Being able to truly talk to someone and listen without judgment is a talent.
• Making people feel comfortable and safe in your presence is a talent.
• Having a natural grace with children—guiding them, teaching them, and bringing out their joy—is a talent.
• Leadership—stepping up, guiding others, and communicating with clarity—is a talent.
You aren't born with these abilities simply on your own merit; they are God-given gifts entrusted to you for a reason. Yet, how often do we downplay them, keep them to ourselves, or wait until we "feel ready" before using them?
Right after church, I came across a short clip that put the struggle of actually using our gifts into perspective. It broke down the relationship between discipline, motivation, and obsession:
• Discipline is saying, "I will make myself do the thing."
• Motivation is saying, "I want to do the thing."
• Obsession—or true devotion—is saying, "I can't not do the thing."
That hit home. When it comes to the talents God gives us, waiting around for motivation is risky—motivation comes and goes. Sometimes we start with discipline, choosing to show up and use our gifts even when it feels uncomfortable or stretched. Over time, as we see how those gifts serve others and honor God, discipline turns into genuine motivation. Eventually, it becomes something deeper—a calling so woven into who you are that you simply can't not do it. You can't imagine burying it anymore.
As we stand on the threshold of a new church year and prepare to enter Advent, I want to leave you with the same question I’m asking myself today: What has God placed in your hands that you’ve been keeping hidden?
Whether it’s a resource, a creative skill, a steady leadership voice, or simply the ability to make someone feel seen and welcome—don't bury it. Step out in discipline, trust the process, and let God multiply what He has already given you.
That message really sat with me today because it’s something I have been wrestling with myself.
Even though the parable speaks in terms of material resources, the truth behind it applies to every gift God places in our hands—especially the ones we rarely recognize as "talents." We live in a world that celebrates loud, obvious skills, so many people overlook the quieter gifts they carry and don't realize how much those gifts can help others or contribute to society.
Think about it:
• Being able to truly talk to someone and listen without judgment is a talent.
• Making people feel comfortable and safe in your presence is a talent.
• Having a natural grace with children—guiding them, teaching them, and bringing out their joy—is a talent.
• Leadership—stepping up, guiding others, and communicating with clarity—is a talent.
You aren't born with these abilities simply on your own merit; they are God-given gifts entrusted to you for a reason. Yet, how often do we downplay them, keep them to ourselves, or wait until we "feel ready" before using them?
Right after church, I came across a short clip that put the struggle of actually using our gifts into perspective. It broke down the relationship between discipline, motivation, and obsession:
• Discipline is saying, "I will make myself do the thing."
• Motivation is saying, "I want to do the thing."
• Obsession—or true devotion—is saying, "I can't not do the thing."
That hit home. When it comes to the talents God gives us, waiting around for motivation is risky—motivation comes and goes. Sometimes we start with discipline, choosing to show up and use our gifts even when it feels uncomfortable or stretched. Over time, as we see how those gifts serve others and honor God, discipline turns into genuine motivation. Eventually, it becomes something deeper—a calling so woven into who you are that you simply can't not do it. You can't imagine burying it anymore.
As we stand on the threshold of a new church year and prepare to enter Advent, I want to leave you with the same question I’m asking myself today: What has God placed in your hands that you’ve been keeping hidden?
Whether it’s a resource, a creative skill, a steady leadership voice, or simply the ability to make someone feel seen and welcome—don't bury it. Step out in discipline, trust the process, and let God multiply what He has already given you.
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