I’m not good at many things.  In fact, I would be hard-pressed to come up with anything that I think I do well.  And you might accuse me of false humility, or of being overly critical of myself, but it really is true.  I can do plenty of things “well-enough”, but there’s nothing extraordinary about me.

I would be lying if I said that this has never bothered me.  Everyone wants to be exceptional in some way, right?  I’ve often wished I could sing, or create great artwork, or have a brilliant scientific mind, or be a phenomenal athlete.  I’ve thought that a stunning appearance or a more outgoing personality would make me important…or influential…or more than I am without them.  And in some ways, that would certainly be the case.  But, God isn’t in the business of working to increase my glory.    I’m learning, slowly, that the plainness of this person God has made me is purposeful.  Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:5-7

For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.  For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

The more ordinary I am, it seems, the more obvious it is that anything good in me comes from the Lord.  If anyone sees light in my life, since it’s obviously not coming from any beauty or talent that I possess, it is that much more easily attributed to the Lord…by me and by others.

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things–and the things that are not–to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.  It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” —I Corinthians 1:26-31

So, what does this mean for my life?  It means, perhaps, I should be less concerned with my external appearances, and more concerned with my submission to the Lord.  Perhaps, I need to come to a better understanding that my value to God isn’t based on my skillset…that He chose me in my imperfection and un-remarkable-ness…and that He can use me to display His glory.

Certainly, He uses the gifts He’s given His children to bring Him glory, too.  There are so many extraordinarily talented people bringing Him glory through their gifts.  But, I guess the point of it all is this: regardless of whether I am amazing at something, or whether my best efforts only ever bring mediocre results…God can glorify Himself through me, and I have nothing to boast in except Him.