You may have seen many of the shocking videos of those with talent that people couldn’t believe.

Ones like this one:  Shy Boy and his Friend Shock Simon Cowell

Wow! Why is it that we still size people up by stereotyping, and then allow our own lack of confidence in ourselves to overshadow our talent.

Talent does not look, smell, or display a certain way.  Yet, we are all shocked when this boy sings beautifully.  ANd, with this incredible voice, he still allows others opinions to push him into a box of shyness. He lacks self-confidence, and receives the approval of the world in that lack.

I found this boy quite humble.  He could have decided long ago that his voice was who he was, but he didn’t.  He could have said, “How dare you think any less of me because I have this incredible voice”  He could have become very prideful, but he didn’t.  He could have relied on self-confidence.

God has always used those who lack self-confidence to glorify Himself.

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

1 Cor 1:25-27 (NKJV)

Let’s consider those who asked God, “Who am I?”.  As well as the “I AM” who calls us.

Moses had been spared life by bold parents, chosen by the Pharoah’s daughter to live, grown up in the palace as royalty, stopped fighting among his hebrew brothers, killed an egyptian on their behalf, and fled to a place where he found a wife and family as an exile.  After all of the shame he had brought to a royal family, and hebrew brethren denied his help with accusations of murder, God chose him to go back and ask for the release of His people.

Moses said, “Who am I?”

11 But Moses said to God, “Who amI that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

Ex 3:11 (NKJV)

David a shepherd boy forgotten by his family on the day someone would be anointed king, was chosen that very day by God.  He then ran for his life from a jealous rebellious king, and had to fight just to live until the appointed time.  That same David, once in the palace reigning as king of Israel asked God, “Who am I?”  He had just looked around and saw his dwelling place was magnificent, yet God still dwelt in a tent.

16 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord; and he said: “Who amI, O Lord God? And what is my house , that You have brought me this far?

1 Chron 17:16 (NKJV)

Although he was in the place that God had called him to, He still couldn’t fathom why God had chosen him and made him a mighty warrior.

Yet, in both of these situations God reminded them who He was.  He reminded them that the GREAT “I AM” was calling them.  Their Creator, their Master, their Redeemer, and Deliverer was calling them and establishing them.

El Shaddai “God Almighty”, the Self Sufficient One, He is the Great I Am.

What if we started asking Who are You Lord, that you would call me and give me such talent.  What if we abandoned the fight for self-confidence and acceptance of the world for who we are in Christ Jesus?

Confidence is the key.  Dictionary.com defines confidence as 1. full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing.

Well, I can tell you that I have none in myself.  I fail myself in all of this, all of the time.  So maybe Moses and David knew more than we thought they did when they said, “Who am I?” when they were before their God who called them.

Start today evaluating your talents and abilities with confidence in the God who gave them.  If you are before Him and He is calling you to do something you lack self-confidence in then be confident in Him and His ability in you.

If you lack confidence in God then maybe the question you are asking should be:

Who are You, and who am I in You God?

27 Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?” 28 So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say,Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”

Mark 8:27-29 (NKJV)