Introverts Make Great Communicators

I learned this studying in the 1990's under Tina Fey in Chicago. 
Smart and polite. 
Sharp as a tack.
And an introvert. 
Tina wasn't the after-party girl at Second City.
Instead she labored through and internalized ideas during her off-hours
until they came out on stage as comedic genius.

 

John Piper shared at a 2004 conference that introverts preach. 
God's grace eclipses their weakness. 
He thanks God to this day for his awkward teenage years. 
They were the fertile genesis of digging deep toward a pastoral soul.

 

The first time I shared a meal with Mark Driscoll, I was struck by how quiet he was. 
But give him a microphone on a bare stage and - WHAMO - God puts His super on Driscoll's natural.

Comments

[David]

Encouraging to this introvert. But I struggle with the idea that being an introvert is a "weakness." Why?

[Robert Baxter]

Appreciated the post!

[Amber]

I agree, David. Being an introvert is not a weakness but part of how God has uniquely wired a person. I think the idea that Jon is trying to communicate (and one we've experienced first hand) is that often society views introverted traits as weak or lacking in social skills. People see the charismatic up front personality and expect that level of intensity in all their interactions with the individual. This expectation can then drive the introvert to be someone they aren't or feel like they are lacking in some way. I think these examples are provided to encourage the introvert to praise God for using the introvert in a way that unmistakably gives God all the glory!