Genesis 1

Genesis 1:26-27  Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."  ²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

A few weeks ago I completed Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath.  This is a book with an assessment the reader can complete to find their strengths.  The premise of this book is instead of looking for your weaknesses and improving upon them, it encourages you to discover your natural strengths and work from where you are most comfortable.

After completing the assessment you are given your top five areas of strength.  Mine were no surprise; responsibility, maximize, belief, strategic, and learner.  As I read through the descriptions of each of the categories, it was almost eerie how spot on each of the descriptors was.  Though, each of these strengths has to do with process and tasks…doing something and doing it better. 

The more I thought about my results, the more bothered I became.  None of these strengths has anything to do with people.  None of these strengths has anything to do with compassion or caring.  I came to realize while these may be some of my strengths, these are not my only strengths.  This assessment tries to pigeonhole individuals into categories instead of realizing we are very complicated individuals…just like our Creator.

God is triune – He is three in one…Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  All are God, but yet He is God.  He is a loving God – loving us so much He sent His Son to die for us on the cross.  He is a wrathful God – vindicating His children.  He is a merciful God – forgiving our sin when we humble ourselves and ask.  He is a just God – not being swayed from the Law and always doing what is right.  God is complicated.  He has many hats that He wears.  If we are made in His image, why are we so surprised that we are complicated as well?

We all have strengths that come natural to us.  We all have areas that become strengths because of growth over time.  We are constantly learning, adapting, and growing.  We aren’t the same as we were a year ago and through experience and life we will be different a year from now.  We can’t let some assessment or test tell us who we are.  That’s only a snapshot – it’s not the whole picture.  People like to judge and categorize us – but we are more than that.  On the other side – we need to make sure and not categorize others.

We are amazing…and complicated.  You are made in His image!! And don’t forget it!! J

I’m praying for you!

Pastor Amy