Breaking the Cycle: Seeing God’s Gifts in Each Other

We live in a society that celebrates independence. “Mind your business.” “Do you.” “Stay in your lane.” Those mantras shape the way we treat one another. We prize freedom from outside voices, even though we still crave affirmation deep inside. Ironically, that makes us suspicious of anyone who tries to speak into our lives.

On the flip side, most of us also hesitate to speak into someone else’s life. We fear rejection, awkwardness, or crossing a boundary. And yet, while holding back encouragement, we often harbor silent judgments. It becomes a cycle: nobody wants to receive input, and nobody wants to offer it. So gifts remain buried, people stay underdeveloped, and the body of Christ misses out.

But the church is called to be different. The Bible says, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7). That means every believer has been entrusted with a Spirit-given gift meant to bless others. Those gifts aren’t just discovered in isolation; they’re drawn out and confirmed in community.

Imagine what would change if we chose to recognize and affirm God’s work in each other. Instead of staying silent, we could say:

• “I see how God uses your compassion to lift others up.”
• “The way you pray encourages my faith.”
• “You may not notice it, but your leadership helps bring clarity.”
  
  

Words like these don’t just make people feel good; they unlock spiritual potential. Encouragement helps gifts grow, and sometimes gentle correction redirects them for even greater impact.

Breaking this cycle requires courage. It takes humility to receive input without defensiveness. It takes boldness to offer input without fear. But when both are present, the body of Christ flourishes.

Society tells us to stay out of each other’s lives. The Spirit calls us to step in—not to control, not to judge, but to steward the gifts God has placed in one another. When we do, the church stops limping and starts running, strengthened by every member playing their part.

So let’s break the cycle. Let’s choose affirmation over silence, courage over fear, community over isolation. Because when we recognize the gifts God has planted in others, we reveal His glory more fully than we ever could alone.