Victorious Mindsets 5: My Gift Will Make Room for Me (Overcoming the fear of being overlooked), by Steve Backlund

“My Gift Will Make Room for Me
(Overcoming the fear of being overlooked)

“A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men” (Proverbs 18:6).

The Apostle Paul had a word from God in Acts 27 that the ship should not leave harbor, but he was ignored. His life and the lives of others were temporarily messed up by those who ignored him. Later, Paul’s gift came to the forefront and saved the day. He had not allowed his earlier rejection to sour his outlook. He “stayed on the ship,” not just physically but also in his relationships and in his attitude. He trusted God that his gift would make room for him and be recognized by the key people in his life.

Believing the promise that our gift will make room for us will help us to rest in the midst of rejection or unfair treatment (knowing that our destiny depends more upon our enlarging our gifts than whether others see our gifts now). This attitude allows us to passionately pursue our gifts and calling and not be sidetracked by seasons of feeling overlooked or unappreciated.

Many great people in the Bible, like Paul on the ship, had times where they had to trust (in the face of contrary looking circumstances) that their gift would eventually be valued and needed. Moses was alone on the back side of the desert for 40 years. Joseph was forgotten in prison by one who said he would remember him. David was called to be king by God but mistreated and held back by an authority figure over him. Daniel was forgotten by different leaders/kings for long periods of time. There are many other biblical examples of this kind of experience as well.

A proper response to feeling passed over is a lesson for all to learn. Those who don’t do so will unwittingly hinder the release of their gifts (while all the time blaming others and even God). Yes, there may be times when we need to make changes that will allow us to have greater opportunities for open doors, but we better be sure that we are not running from a deep work of God in us that in the long run will open bigger doors for our gifts (if we stay put and serve the Lord with gladness).” (Steve Backlund, Victorious Mindsets, Thomas Nelson, 2008, p.34)