Are you being called to do something very specific with your life and you just aren’t sure what to do? This month we are going to center our conversations around our calling, and we all have a calling!
I’ve been asked by many young women how do you determine your calling and how do you know if it’s from God. I believe knowing and understanding your calling begins with your faith walk.
Our Primary Calling
First, I want you to know that your primary calling is to share the good news as in Mark 16:15 when Jesus told the disciples, “Go out into the world and share the good news with all of creation.”
Your first step? Seek God and follow His lead just like Esther, Deborah, and Abigail. Women leaders serving the Lord regardless of their circumstances, fears, or feelings. God calls all of us to serve, and when we keep our eyes focused on Him, it’s much easier to discern our calling. If we are not focused on God, how can we recognize what He has appointed us to do?
When God Speaks!
Most of the time we’re so busy with life we forget to schedule time with God. Prioritizing time to pray and meditate on His word allows us to strengthen our Spiritual muscles. If we’re not spending time with God, how will we know who is leading us? As for me, I want to make sure I hear God when He speaks to me. I don’t want to miss a thing He has planned for me!
Have you experienced a time in your life where you were sure you heard God speak to you or knew He was moving you forward?
Esther, Deborah, and Abigail were women leaders who were successful because they simply obeyed God. They heard Him and complied. They were not seeking followers, status, or notability. They just did the right thing. You could also say they were at the right time and the right place because they followed God’s calling and He led them. It’s His timing, not our timing or planning or operating. When I share these thoughts with the women I mentor, we are filled with excitement. It’s exciting to know that God has plans for us and if we follow His lead, He will use us at just the right time. And, who doesn’t love a surprise?
Waiting on God
Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of waiting on God. The numerous times I’ve tried to make things happen in my own power never turned out well for me. Like the time I felt God calling me to serve on a particular committee. I thought the volunteer position was a great fit. My gifts and skills were utilized, and I believed in the mission of the organization. I was enjoying my new role, and then the discord began. Lots of discord and I quickly realized my values did not align with the values of the organization.
Trust me when I say it’s much easier to say no thank you as opposed to saying yes and realizing later that your hasty yes should have been a no! You would think I’d learn my lesson but I tend to get caught up in the excitement of a new opportunity. In this particular situation, I prayed through my dilemma, I knew I needed to resign from the volunteer position and I followed through with the decision. Had I only prayed before I made the commitment, I would have saved myself and others a lot of grief!
When I seek God and remain faithful, I find fulfillment and success because He equips me. Operating in His power gives me strength. It will take courage and confidence to move forward when you are called. I’m not always as brave or self-assured as I would like to be, but I place my trust in Him fully confident that He will equip me, and this assuredness fills me with peace. And that’s when you know the call is from God!
Walking Out Your Calling
You see, when you are operating within your talents and gifts, walking out your calling, you are living a purposeful life.
Living an intentional life is pursuing what God has called you to do. Click To Tweet
I’ll be honest, it hasn’t been that easy for me. I spent several years trying to figure out what I was called to do. Looking back, I realize all I needed to do was to be still and seek God, but I allowed what everyone else was doing or saying to distract me, which only confused me more. For example, I am excellent at event planning, but too much event planning and I’m ready to shut down. It becomes a never-ending to-do list that loses its sparkle, and once the sparkle is lost, it becomes monotonous and I do not thrive in monotonous situations. I love to build and create. Ask me to mentor or assist young women with leadership or career advice, and I’m all in!
Why? Because I’m ministering to others by using my gifts which are leadership, administration, and giving, and this motivates me. I am where God has called me, and this brings me lots of joy!
The Pressure to Please
I’m always saddened when I hear of the pressure young women feel to enter a particular profession, attend a specific school, or ____________ (you fill in the blank). When young women choose to meet the demands of family and friends instead of following their true passion or calling, they become unsure of their future or purpose. I believe this is why there are many young women hesitant to begin, or worse suffer from burn out due to the pressure to meet expectations or perform based on someone else’s standards. Living life to please others isn’t living with intention or purpose.
Embrace Your Calling
How do you avoid this? Pursue God. When you are pursuing God, you’ll be content in your work, and your work will bring you happiness. Living with purpose is fulfilling and allows you to unleash your potential.
Today, I encourage you to embrace your calling. If you are unsure of what that actually looks like, take some time to reflect on scripture and spend time in prayer. Ask yourself if there is anything holding you back from embracing your calling. Whether it’s pressure or a lack of confidence, dig deep and uncover your fears.
So, I ask you, what do you need to do today to start
It’s my prayer through reflection and refinement, you will experience life in the fullness of Christ.
Answer the call!
Image Credit by Parinaz Wadia Illustrations & Designs
[…] from God. My question for you, are you embracing your God-given calling? In last week’s post, I wrote about our primary calling, which is to share the good news with all of creation Mark […]