What Is Your Calling?
Are you living your calling?
Working where God wants you to work?
Doing what God wants you to do?
Living the life God planned out for you?
Living with purpose?
The desire to live a life of purpose and meaning is an innate desire in all humans, and a lack of purpose is responsible for a whole host of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, apathy, and even suicidal ideation. The desire for purpose and meaning is instilled in every person by God. Furthermore, God has a general and a unique calling for everyone.
First, the Bible tells us that we all have a general calling in life, which is to worship God, accept Christ as our personal Savior, glorify God in all we do, live righteously, and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone.
“Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.”
Isaiah 43:7 (NLT)
That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.
King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 12:13 (NLT)
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Eph 2:10 (NLT)
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 28:19 (NLT)
“In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
Matthew 5:16 (NLT)
But God also has a unique calling for every member of his creation. But how do we know what this is? Before we answer that question, we need to clarify some common misunderstandings about the term “calling”.
- In terms of vocation, a calling is not always to a formal ministry, such as a pastor or missionary. In fact, most are not called to these roles. People are called to work in all types of positions with all types of companies. Every position is an opportunity to be light in a dark world.
- A calling may be short-term or for a specific season. Sometimes God wants us to be in a particular place or position to give us opportunity to grow or for us to meet a specific need within that place. Once that season is done, we may be called elsewhere.
- You can have more than one calling at a time. You may be called to work as a widget maker, work in the church nursery, write a Christian children’s book, and go on a short-term mission trip with your church.
But how do I know what God is calling me to do?
- Grow close to God. The more time you spend in prayer and Bible study, the more you will get to know God, and the clearer his voice will become. “’My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.;’” (John 10:27, NLT)
- Live your general calling. We are called to live in obedience and practice righteousness, bringing glory to God in all circumstances. In Luke 16:10, Jesus tells us this: “’If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.’” (NLT). The more faithful you are in doing everything to the glory of God, the more responsibility God will give you. (See also 2 Peter 1:3-11)
- Check your “calling” against the Bible. God will never call you to something that is not aligned with Biblical standards. For example, God will never call you to a job in piracy, pornography, or pimping. Nor will he “call” you to commit sin such as leaving your spouse for someone else. “And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, ‘God is tempting me.’ God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.” (James 1:13-15, NLT)
- Be a lump of clay! A friend recently said that God’s calling in his life was simply to be a lump of clay. A lump of clay can be molded by its creator into something amazing. Likewise, if we are willing to let God mold us, he will create something that is amazing and useful for the Kingdom! “And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8, NLT)
- Be ready to act. When God calls us to something, or to move from one calling to another, we need to be ready and willing to go. I think all of us have a fear that God will one day tell us to sell everything and move to a remote part of the world to minister to hostile cannibals! It is true that he could do this, and if he did, you would find extreme peace and satisfaction from doing it! But in most cases, God doesn’t call us to do that. He may, however, ask us to move outside of our comfort zone. Several years ago, I held a high-level position in a company. During my time there, God blessed me with success. The company performed well and ran smoothly, even during trying times. At some point, I felt that God was nudging me in a different direction in a different state. Although I wanted to listen, I was comfortable in my role, and the move simply didn’t seem to make sense at that time. God had other ideas, and soon, through a very unlikely series of events, he moved me in a less desirable manner. “It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8, NLT)
- Listen to the Holy Spirit. Anyone who has accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior has his Spirit living in them. The Holy Spirit talks to us in different ways. It may be a sense of uneasiness at our job that wasn’t there before, prompting us to make a move. Maybe it is a burning desire to do something that God has placed on your heart. Maybe it is a verse that keeps cropping up in different places. Whatever it is, be aware of what he is trying to tell you.
- Watch for confirmation. Often when we feel led to something, God will give us confirmation. That may come through a sermon, other people, a book, or another source.
- Be sure it is from God. As humans, we often find ourselves wanting something very much and crediting that desire to a calling from God. When our “calling” is simply of ourselves and not of God, we will know it in our spirit, even if we don’t want to admit it. When this happens, we need to put aside our own desires and listen for what God really wants from us. If we don’t, his voice will become weaker and weaker, and we will not realize his purpose in our lives. “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” Jeremiah 17:9 (NLT)
Dear Lord,
Today I want to hear your voice and know what it is you are calling me to do in this season. Open my eyes to my blind spots where I desire something that isn’t your will. Open my spirit to your will and calling in my life, and then equip me to do that will. Help me to always live a life that glorifies you and brings others to a saving faith in you. Amen.
Songs of Victory
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Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
