We all have natural skills and talents. And with a little practice we can become quite competent in our particular skillset. But there remains more to us than the skills we’ve perfected.
Perhaps we’ve earned a few degrees and professional credentials. And few can question our status socially.
On the outside we look good. But on the inside many doubts and insecurities remain.
We often confuse our skills with our true identity.
While professional skills are part of who we are, there is more to us than merely being a doctor, accountant, mechanic, or the like.
Certainly there is nothing wrong with pursuing professional credentials and skills per se.
When our heart is good there is no guilt in the particular job we hold, as they all can be redeemed for good.
The problem comes when we hide behind our professional roles that we forget our true identity.
When the job changes or we retire we might experience a crisis in identity.
And even before this, our relationships might seem shallow and empty if we’ve not discovered a depth beyond our professional roles.
We can talk shop with colleagues but rarely does this conversation touch on the deepest parts of our soul.
And we might also experience a disconnect with family and friends as they don’t relate to us primarily in our professional roles.
When we’ve not discovered other aspects of who we are there’s not much for them to connect with.
To be sure, our professional roles often provide a clue to who God has called us to be. At the same time, we must remember there is more to us than the particular skills and credentials we’ve gain.
Use well the skills God has given you. And look beyond them to discover your true self.
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