I’m often baffled when a person who is a committed follower of Christ asks, “What’s your calling?”
To me, the answer is a no-brainer. The “call” of every Christian is the same: to commit ourselves to follow Jesus and be conformed to His image. [Tweet this] In other words, the calling on our lives is to press our noses so close into the shoulder blades of Jesus that He’s the only one we see and follow.
The real question isn’t “What’s your calling?” but “How are you specifically fulfilling that calling?”
And that’s a question many of us are being forced to revisit.
Why?
We’re living in the midst of a technological revolution that’s turning our world upside down. The ways we learn, communicate, and shop are shifting in mind-bending ways.
Many of our nation’s jobs are disappearing. Some of us hear of friends and loved ones who have been laid off and quietly wonder when our pink slip will arrive. This forces us to revisit the question of how we live out our calling as Christ followers.
I believe that now more than ever we need to expand our understanding of what Christ has called us to. [Tweet this]
Let me give you a practical example. I have a lovely Christian friend who when the topic of calling pops up answers confidently, “My calling is to teach kindergartners and show them the love of Christ.” And I love that! I adore watching the way she talks about her kids, the way she celebrates their progress, the moments she shares funny stories from the classroom.
But I also wonder, “What if cutbacks begin affecting her classroom? Her job? What if she’s laid off?”
Is the fulfillment of her calling found in a job title or something more?
I believe the way she fulfills the calling on her life can’t be limited by whatever fits on a business card. My friend is called to teach—and that gift can be used in countless different ways each and every day both inside and outside the classroom.
In my own life, I can say that I fulfill my calling as a non-fiction, Christian writer. But it sounds so narrow. If I broaden the fulfillment of my calling to a communicator—then whether I’m writing a book or an email or a blog post, whether I’m sending a Tweet or a text, whether I’m spending time with friends around a dinner table or enjoying sharing with an audience, I’m fulfilling my calling, using the gifts that God has given me, and living more expectant for how God may move—leaving us all wonderstruck. [Tweet this]
Which raises the questions: How are you fulfilling your calling? And is the way you’ve been thinking about your calling too small?
**Original photo found here.
Thank you for this post. I have wondered the same thing. Am I doing what God has called me to do? I do a lot of “things” in our church and other organizations. But am not sure I have found a calling of sorts. I just appreciate that others ask that too.
Preach Sister! Yes! We are called to live as light in a dark world, not because we are the light but because His light shines brightly through us as we obey & follow Him. Praying for you!
From time to time, I question , what is God calling me to do for Him? But, I know waiting patiently for him to reveal it is one of the hardest thing do besides trusting him that he has everything in control .
It’s all at his perfect timing. So, I don’t rush it and just wait until he nudges at me to get out of my comfort zone.
This post spoke to the depths of my soul! Thank you so much!!! I feel like I try to put my own “calling” in a box, and other times it’s so big I don’t know what to do with myself. It’s not tied to a job or a title, but it’s tied to me. And sometimes I have those days where my dreams are so big I don’t know where to start. Ultimately I’m serving Jesus and letting his love pour out of me.
You aren’t alone, Michele! Praying that you continue to press your forehead to Jesus’ shoulder blades and step in his footsteps!
Amen! Thank you sweet Jennifer!
So true, Amelinda. Praying for you as you continue following him and trusting in his perfect timing.
Yes! You hit that right on the head, Stephanie. Keep serving Him and everything else will fall into place. Hug to you sister.
Oh boy. I love this!! I often wonder too when I hear people talking/writing about calling and mission. I’d been praying about this a while back and it just seemed to me I am called to Know God and make Him known (which kind of sound arrogant when I see it in writing but I still believe its the call of all of us (and I think it fits with what you have written — we cannot be conformed to His image unless we KNOW Him and are letting Him work in us and as we let Him live through us and we follow Him we can’t help but make Him known). How I do that at any point in time depends on doors God opens — and closes, the gifts, passions and abilities He’s given me and very often the people He brings across my path (which I guess would have to do with doors opening and closing and such). I absolutely love God’s word and studying it — and writing about it and even more TALKING about it — talking about HIM!!! At one time I thought I was “called” to teach/talk and I thought this meant in a formal way — like, you know you or Beth Moore 🙂 but what God has worked in my life looks nothing like that (right now)…but He does keep bringing people one on one into my life who need to know Him or know Him more deeply and so it goes. And, I just may be starting a blog that kind of fulfills a vision He gave me for what He wanted me to do (only I just thought “wouldn’t it be neat if a person could…” — I didn’t know I was thinking about a blog because this was waaaaayyyyy before there were such things…Ultimately Christ, living in Him and letting Him work through that is my calling — however He specifies…sounds vague, but oh no…He makes sure its specific and precise as He plans. Praying for you!
I have struggled to figure out my calling. I feel it is teaching, but that is quite broad. I have been a teacher in many different ways throughout most of my adult life. In order to focus more on specific projects or service, I am exploring listening for my shepherd’s voice calling to me.
I love that you are pursuing being a teacher in so many different facets, Janet. Keep chasing after Him! Happy Thanksgiving, friend.
Yes! To know God and make him known. Love it. You go girl!
I totally agree with you that we all have one calling. I sum it up this way….My calling is to GO BE LOVE.
I think your calling is spot on. Sounds a lot like mine! 🙂