HSPs’ ability to process so much through their five senses and to imagine detailed situations inspires a craving to find answers to the mysteries of life. They might ask, “Why are things the way they are?” “What is my role in the grand scheme of life?” They wonder why others aren’t as concerned as they are about such questions. As children, their penchant for deep thinking may have inspired them to daydream or to create imaginary friends or fantasy play. As adults, their dreams may be very vivid. After reading Dr. Elaine Aron’s book, The Highly Sensitive Person, a lot of people have asked, “Is this the same as a burden-bearer?” Highly Sensitive: Understanding Your Gift of Spiritual Sensitivity is a valuable companion piece to Carol Brown's previous book, The Mystery of Spiritual Sensitivity. This volume not only provides a precise summary of the topics covered in the prequel (true identity, burden bearing, aspects of high sensitivity, healing), but counsels you on the steps and spiritual practices that will help you-the "highly sensitive burden bearer" to shine in your gifting. The word of knowledge is the ability to research, remember, and make effective use of a variety of information on a number of diverse subjects. HSP’s can find change very upsetting—even a positive change such as a job promotion or making new friends. Familiar routines and situations are not as overstimulating. They need more time than others to adjust to change.

Have you felt a special responsibility to protect the truth of God’s Word by exposing that which is wrong? People with the Gift of Knowledge love to study, love to learn, and are not content with a surface-level knowledge of topics. They are compelled to conduct thorough research and compile their findings so that others can benefit from their long hours of focused study. People with this spiritual gift love God with all their mind (Mark 12:29-30). And these people tend to like footnotes. HSP’s are overly distressed by having to do a lot in a short amount of time, such as a timed quiz or a deadline for a to-do list. It’s too much overload on their five senses and their easily overstimulated minds. I normally can zip right through a lot of books, but because of how in depth the author covers the subject of being highly sensitive I found myself reading slowly to digest all the insights provided. Do you get frustrated when people make foolish decisions that damage their quality of life, because you know what they should have done instead?People with the Gift of Leadership tend to gravitate toward the “point position” in a ministry. Others tend to have trust and confidence in their abilities. They best serve others by leading them. They tend to operate with a strong sense of destiny.

The gift of mercy is the capacity to feel and express unusual compassion and sympathy for those in difficult or crisis situations and provide them with the necessary help and support to see them through tough times. HSP’s are intensely sensitive to physical pain of any kind, such as headaches, injuries, sore muscles, etc. In one sense, pastoring is the office reserved for those men who meet the biblical criteria (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). In another sense, there is a pastoral gift also commonly known as shepherding or biblical counseling that God gives to people in the church beyond the pastors/elders. These people protect, guide, counsel, and disciple other people. The gift of giving is the ability to give money and other forms of wealth joyfully, wisely, and generously to meet the needs of others and help support ministries. Do people often come to you with difficult problems and questions from the Bible, seeking your insight because they know you will have the answer or find it?God will also give us passions and opportunities in addition to natural talents and spiritual gifts. Do you find that when you visit those who are suffering it brings you joy rather than depressing you? HSP’s can feel overly disturbed by violent movies and TV shows or news about brutal acts against animals or people. They feel the need to avoid these, since their heightened senses (what they see and hear in violent movies) and their imagination (what they picture about violent news stories) intensify their displeasure. HSP’s are empathetic and often feel emotionally exhausted from being acutely aware of what subtle facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice tell them about others’ feelings. They also tend to picture and think a lot about the details of situations that cause others pain. Burden bearers also ask such questions and often do all these things, but more out of a deep searching in their spirit to understand and articulate the mysteries of what they sense around them.

HSP’s, with their heightened ability to observe the outward signs of others’ pain, often to try to be as perfect as possible to make others happy.All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.”

For burden bearers, perfectionism and the desire to make others happy is more a reaction to the pain their spirit senses in others. Burden bearers can feel distressed by these things when their spirit is already overloaded by what they sense around them. Do you find yourself feeling opposed to anyone who expresses that something cannot be done or accomplished?Burden bearers aren’t overly sensitive to such things physically, but they can become so if their spirit and emotions become so worn out by what they sense that their body begins to react to the stress. People with the Gift of Faith trust God in difficult, even impossible situations when others are ready to give up. These people are often visionaries who dream big dreams, pray big prayers, and attempt big things for Jesus. These people tend to be optimistic, hopeful, persevering, change-oriented, and future- focused. These people also tend to be very convincing about the truth of Scripture because they themselves are so convinced of the truth and power of God and his Word.