We talk a lot about what we are or aren’t “called” do to, but when’s the last time you truly sought the Lord about your calling?
This is something I really wrestled with last summer. I turned 30 in May of 2014, and just felt like my life was in some sort of a transition when it came to my calling. In the midst of praying about this, my campus pastor was preaching a series on spiritual gifts and said, “You have a gift and the church needs it.” This was such a moment of conviction for me. To this point, I felt like my calling was about me—it was about what I was able to do, and how it was going to change my life. Everything turned on its head that day because I realized that my calling is for the edification of the church body—and it’s not about me at all. I watched as I was faithful to do what God was calling me to do, that He affirmed (through other people) that I was doing the right thing, even though it seemed intimidating and terrifying. He showed me how it’s not for my benefit, but for the benefit of others and the building up of the church.
The best way I know how to define calling is where our God-given gifts and our burning passions meet. It’s where we become fully alive and awake to what God put us here to do.
Do I feel completely confident today in what God has called me to do? No way! Most days, I wake up scared and intimidated, but I get into God’s Word and realize that the strength doesn’t have to come from me—I just have to be a willing vessel to be used.
As I’ve looked at the book of 2 Timothy this year, God has used it to push me forward to do the thing I know He’s called me to do. As Paul writes to Timothy, his beloved child in the faith, he challenges him to do something with what he’s been taught (1:3-7). He charges Timothy to walk it out (1:12-14) without being ashamed. We have been given a good deposit in Christ—it’s our job to guard and protect it! This is good news and something we can learn from. As those who have discipled us in the faith encourage and affirm us (alongside what God is doing), we have to be bold and walk out what God is calling us to do. If we don’t, who will?
I had the opportunity to teach this topic to college students last week at Lifeway’s Collegiate Week, and here are a few things I reminded them of, and that you may need to hear, too!
- Pray and ask God to reveal and clarify your calling.
- Remember that these are given to edify the church—not yourself.
- Your call won’t look exactly like anyone else’s—we were all uniquely created for a purpose.
- Know yourself—what are you passionate about?
- Listen to the wise men and women in your life who know you—are they affirming where you feel like God is leading?
- Ask for feedback—know your strengths and weaknesses and learn how to receive criticism.
- Walk in a manner worthy of the calling (Ephesians 4:1-6).
- Fully surrender—hands open, whatever it looks like, wherever He may lead you to go.
God has called and equipped you to a specific task and purpose, so walk it out in full faith, believing that God will show you the next step along the way.
Mary Margaret Collingsworth is an event project coordinator at Lifeway in the women’s events area. Follow her on Twitter @marymargaretc.