“But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.”
1 Corinthians 12:18 (NLT)
God didn’t hand you a random gift from a shelf at Walmart. He didn’t ask you to pick what looked cool or fit your personality. He assigned you a spiritual gift and placed you into the body of Christ on purpose—with purpose. Verse 18 echoes the same truth as verse 11: the Holy Spirit determines how the body gets assembled and which part each person plays.
So when we feel like we don’t matter, or our role is small, Paul reminds us—we don’t get to choose how vital we are. Even if a body part thinks it’s not important, that doesn’t change the truth. The armpit may feel like it just stinks, but it still plays a role. The foot may be covered in dust, but try walking without it. Every part matters.
Sometimes we get jealous of someone else’s gift or platform. We compare. We strive to be the hand or the mouth because those roles seem more visible. But the body doesn’t need 100 mouths. It needs ears, and elbows, and even kneecaps.
If your gift is hidden behind the scenes—if you’re one of many hands in your church and can’t find a place to serve—maybe it’s time to ask the Holy Spirit if He’s calling you elsewhere. Or maybe He’s asking you to stop copying someone else and step into your own calling.
Stop hiding your gift. Stop mimicking someone else’s. The body needs you to be you—nothing more, nothing less. Unity and harmony in the Church come when we each embrace our God-given place and function as one. Many parts. One body.