Use What You Got!

 

Every year, usually around Spring or Summer time, I start to desire change.  I tend to get bored with what I have and want something new.  Sometimes that includes things such as changing my hairstyle or hair color, new paint colors on the walls in my home or something as simple as a just buying a few new outfits.  This year, I decided that I wanted to switch things up a bit in my living room.  Nothing too extreme, just exchanging existing furniture pieces for new ones – and so the shopping began.

I immediately visited one of my favorite furniture websites in search of new end tables for my living room.  I found a few options that I liked and was trying to determine which set I wanted to purchase.  It was hard to decide, as they were all so nice.  I was trying to imagine what new end tables would look like in the room, and it was a little difficult.  You see my existing pieces were not end tables at all. They were cabinets and each a different size and shape, so it was hard to imagine something completely new in that space. Suddenly, I remembered that I had end tables in my guestroom and thought they were probably the right height, so I could at least get an idea of what the new tables would look like before ordering them.  So, I brought them down and put one on either side of the couch.  Voila!  They were perfect!  In fact, they looked so good that I started to question whether or not I even needed to purchase new tables at all.  I mean, yes, I would be taking them from the guest room (which was hardly ever used anyway), and yes, that would leave that space empty, but they looked great in the living room.  I stood back and even took a picture with my phone and couldn’t believe how wonderful they looked in the room.  It made the space look a lot bigger than what it is and the color and style of the tables was perfect for the room.  Not to mention, I saved myself $400, which was the price of the new tables that I planned on purchasing.

Shortly after putting the tables into place and getting them cleaned up and decorated, I posted the old pieces of furniture for sale on Craigslist.  A young couple, who had just moved into their first apartment came by a few days later and picked them up.  Yay!  Everyone wins!

As I thought about this experience, I heard God say something to me, “Use what you got.”  He began to show me that I had those end tables for years and all they did was collect dust in the guest room.   I never even considered bringing them down to the living room, but when I did, what a difference it made.  Not only to me, my home and my family, but it also benefited the couple who was able to find cute affordable furniture for their first apartment.

I wondered how many people already have what they need and don’t even know it.

Many of us are praying for something, not realizing that we already possess the answer. We ask God for answers and solutions to our problems, but many times, God has already supplied us with what we need, we just aren’t using it.  In fact, we may not even realize it’s there. So many times we believe that we need something NEW, when really we just need to use what we already have – possibly in a new way!

My guest room tables were collecting dust for years, ignored and unused. What a waste!  Those tables didn’t look nearly as good in the guestroom as they do in the living room.  In fact they were a little too large for the bedroom, but in the living room they were the perfect size.  Now they have new purpose.

What is it that you need?  What is it that you have been praying for?  Is there something that you have been asking God to give you, send you, or provide for you?  Is it possible that you already have what you need?

I am not only referring to furniture pieces and our other belongings (although that may be the case for you as well), but also the hidden things – the strengths,  gifts, talents, and abilities that we have on the inside of us that remain dormant and underutilized.

What is it that you already have, but are not using?  Or what do you already have that may need to be re-purposed and used in a new way?  Maybe the answer to your prayer or problem is sitting somewhere collecting dust.  Go get it and put it to use!

Just a little reminder that our answers aren’t always found in something new.  Survey what you already have, and who knows, you may be surprised to find that you had what you needed all along!

Love,

Melissa