Lesson 224 . Help Me Discover Myself

A good man is sitting on the shore of a lake, lamenting his fate: “Everyone around me is utterly selfish. Everyone thinks only of himself, and no one thinks of me!” Does this sound familiar? Every morning he smiles at himself in the mirror, examines the new wrinkles on his face, and remains unaware of many things about himself that are hidden within his heart.

God created man for fellowship, as a social being, to live in society and to grow and develop under the influence of God’s grace.

Each of us harbors an amazing potential of abilities that no one has sought and that quietly await their treasure hunter, so that they may reveal themselves in all their beauty and strength to anyone who begins to uncover them.

Within each of us lies an enormous potential for many good skills and talents that remain buried beneath the burden of sin and the indifference of those around us.

If society evaluates me according to my ability to fly, I will have to drag out my wretched existence all my life and consider myself a complete fool who could never live up to the expectations of those around me.

“I want you to become the kind of person who is convenient for me”—this is probably the most foolish proposition that we try to impose on one another, especially in families. And it is no wonder that families break apart, friendship disappears, and love grows cold. Of course, there are other causes of these tragedies, but strong relationships have a root that firmly holds them together in closeness, and it sounds like this: “You are very interesting and dear to me, and I want to discover something unique within you and make use of it for your benefit.”

God designed us so that we would help one another discover the hidden treasures of our unique abilities and develop them as we need one another. Sometimes this happens by chance: someone pays me a compliment, noticing something new or unique in my behavior; I think about it and begin to test myself in this area, and then I myself notice this new ability and begin to develop it. Wise parents usually study their children and uncover these talents, paying attention to what will benefit their child in the future and bring joy to those around him.

At any age, the heart waits for someone who will find the key to it and help me discover myself. Flattery will not solve this problem, but it may temporarily charm me in order to achieve its aims and then leave me with nothing. But love will show another person what it finds beautiful in me and give that person the wisdom to draw it properly out of my heart and develop it in the right direction. I do not object to such treatment, although out of modesty I may resist a little and pretend that I do not think of myself in this way.

Of course, if I am full of ambition, pride, and conceit, hardly anyone will be able to help me; but love can find an opening even in this labyrinth and uncover something good. A meek or searching heart, however, has more opportunities for discovery.

Loneliness does not develop my talents. If no one needs me, is interested in me, or has any use for me, then, by and large, I will not spend time discovering my talents. And even if I do find and develop something, but no one recognizes it and I cannot at least demonstrate it, I will decide that it is not so important and will bury this ability—or bury it forever.

Compliments, praise, delight, admiration, and sincere kind words from those around me help me see myself through different eyes. Are you drawn to people who behave this way? Personally, I find such company very pleasant. There, very interesting and good things are revealed that bring great joy to the heart. It is a natural magnet that draws my heart to these people with invisible threads. And this is so joyful.

I am now writing in the first person, focusing all attention on myself and describing my unspoken expectations; but I can also become the person who begins to find hidden treasure in those who come into contact with me. To some extent, our lessons help us see ourselves through different eyes, but visual contact is still much more valuable and has a stronger influence, although the imagination can also reveal a great deal.

Do not be afraid to love one another, even if the relationship is one-sided. Love is a good seed. Being a loving person holds enormous promise, giving me the advantage of gaining friends, doing good, bringing love, happiness, and friendship into the lives of others, raising dead souls to life, and giving the water of life to those who are withered and thirsty. The world is moving toward its destruction, but few people want to perish. Although love has grown cold in many hearts, it is still in demand, it is valuable, and many are searching for it.

But sometimes people no longer want to hear anything about love; they want to see and feel it in the way they are treated. Until this happens, I will be nothing more than a smooth talker to them. On the other hand, not everyone wants to receive love in the pure form of purity and holiness, because it begins to convict them, offer a better prospect for life, and reveal the beauty of God—something to which not many will consent.

But the soul of a believer is more open to being discovered. It quietly cries out: “Help me discover myself! I want to know my calling and my place in the temple of God’s building. Uncover the hidden treasures within me so that I may give them to you through my ministry. Lord, give me as a gift to the one who needs me!!!”

There is another enemy of these discoveries. It introduces itself by name: “I have no time!” In reality, the time is there; the priorities are simply arranged incorrectly. When I say this phrase, the person beside me hears: “I am sorry, my friend. You do not interest me.” And the word “you” includes both me and my talents.

But in my heart I do not condemn such treatment, for I am the same way myself, although I have learned to do it with a smile.

Our fellowship is unique. I ask God for changes and new friends, while I myself destroy this at its very foundation with my own words, and then wonder why God does not answer. I ask Him to give me a life partner, but I do nothing to find that person or, having found that person, to discover who they are both for their sake and for my own.

My lack of interest in people causes a corresponding lack of interest on their part. We sow these amazing seeds of indifference in one another, and then expect a wonderful harvest with good fruit; and if it does not come, we grieve and accuse others of selfishness.

I decide to change the course of time and take the path of love, happiness, and friendship. And I have noticed that these seeds also have power and bring forth exactly what I sowed, only many times more than I expected. One must be very foolish to expect something good from others without first giving them this goodness. And this law of sowing and reaping works beautifully in love.

Love opens many hearts, and in the light of love people learn many interesting things about themselves. Sometimes they do not even suspect what talents are hidden within their hearts or what mighty potential they possess, regardless of their outward appearance and physical weakness.

God has left no one without talents. And so I sit on the shore of the lake, dreaming of meeting my explorer or gold prospector, who will notice me and help me discover myself. But until he comes, I will learn this profession myself and go in search of hidden treasures. Oh, how many of them there are all around—and where can I find the time for all of this?

Homework 224

In the light of our lesson, please read Philippians 4:8; 1 Corinthians 13:12; Romans 12:16; Matthew 25:15; Proverbs 27:9; and Ecclesiastes 6:12.
Did you learn anything useful from this lesson?
Have any of your friends helped you make discoveries within yourself?
How can you help another person discover something new and amazing about himself?
Do you enjoy making others happy? How do you do this?
Are you familiar with your potential? What is needed to uncover it?
How limited are my limitless possibilities?
How can we correctly identify another person’s hidden abilities?
Is it worthwhile to make new discoveries in the life partner with whom you have already lived for many years?