Why has God called you to this winding road of roughness?
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
The Nature of God’s Calling
Yes, God interrupted your plan. A calling from God is a disruptive and self-surrendering plan for His purpose. It is the personal acceptance of God’s assignment for your life. Jesus is the supreme example of self-surrender to God’s plan. His prayer is an example of a willingness to submit to God’s will above his own. “Father [Jesus prayed], everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine (Mark 14:36).” Thus, surrendering to God’s calling is not for cowardly or robotic persons.
Personally, I did not want to accept the challenge of my calling from God. Truthfully, I thought about what others might think. To me, my rational points made sense i.e., lack of knowledge concerning much of the scriptures was a great argument. After more than a year, my senseless arguments to God did not let me “off the hook.” In the very moment that I let go, and said, “Yes,” God’s response was, “Now, I will send you where you need to go. They will know that I sent you.” With that acceptance, my bed became a place that I could finally sleep peacefully. No more sleepless nights about that matter. Surrendering to your calling from God is obedience.
Reflective Practices for Understanding Your Calling
Again, Jesus is the supreme model for walking in obedience in your calling. To understand the blessing of surrendering, you must maintain practices for strengthening and developing your trust in God. The following are just a few examples:
- (1) Prayer Life – Your prayer life is not a public performance for displaying how well you pray. Jesus condemned prayers given to make you appear spiritual. Rather, the prayer life that Jesus desires for us is to bring salvation – one more for Jesus. The focus of your prayer life relevant to your calling is salvation, Luke 10:2; 1 Timothy 2:3-5.
- (2) Meditation on God’s Word – Meditation is the powerful connection of God’s word. God sheds light on your situation when you meditate on the Word. This connection builds your personal relationship with Him for walking in your calling. In examining things that are happening in this world, God’s Word brings clarity to daily situations. Meditation supercharges you and builds your faith in a confused world. The reality is that life has its problems, but God has the answer in the Word because He is the Word. Give us this day our daily bread (Matthew 6). Therefore, we must daily turn our focus on what God says. We must reiterate that God is in control and we can rest in him. For the believer, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law, he meditates day and night,” Psalm 1:2.
- (3) Journaling – Journaling is therapeutic. Writing or drawing our feelings and thoughts reduces anxiety. We can express ourselves in a creative way to God. I have several different types of journals, including a praise journal. We are individuals. Each person gets to choose what is best for that individual. The way you choose to journal is a personal choice. It is the expression of your heart to God; your pondering (Psalm 111:2). How ever you choose, the focus is to optimize your optimize mental health and spend time with God.
Challenges in Discernment
Quite often, others share with me the feelings of being challenged while seeking to understand their calling. These challenges are often the result of tradition, busyness, past life, and lack of preparedness in theology. As previously stated, accepting the calling from God is not for the coward. Nothing surprises God. He is aware of common place challenges in people. It is where God chooses. He will equip you with what is needed to accomplish His work (Ephesians 3:20). To overcome the doubts and fears related to God’s calling is to be obedient. Being a people-pleaser will hinder your calling from God. Although your call is to the people, it is to please and follow God. You will not be able to serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). A surrendered heart to God means to please God (Galatians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:4).
Fulfilling Your Purpose through Service
Fulfilling your purpose through service can be uncomfortable. This is because we often think in terms or short-term goals. On the other hand, a view of long-term eternal gain is our reward. Jesus said, “I come to serve.” The scripture of Matthew 20:26- 28 is one example of how we are to serve. In other words, serve with humility. A servant leader must possess humility. A servant is not greater than the master (John 13:16). We are not greater than the One who called us into this ministry. In fact, we are the least among God’s children. We do not deserve this type of mercy and compassion from God. Remember that Jesus humbled himself on the cross and submitted his will to save us. Every sin that you and I are guilty of, Jesus gave his life for it. With compassion and humility, we are to serve others.
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