Am I being called by God?

Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. -I Corinthians 7:17 (ESV)

I have had many pastoral conversations over the years with people of all ages, with the hopes that I could help them answer the question “Is God calling me?”. It is of course not a simple question and not one that I can answer for anyone else. It is one we must all ultimately answer for ourselves.

To many in our day, the concept of having a calling in your life is antiquated. At the very least, most see it as something relegated only to preachers and missionaries, and the like. I remember when I “surrendered to my calling.” It was a time filled with awe and wonder. For me, the calling was to go into full-time Christian ministry or vocational ministry.

However, nowhere in the teachings of scripture do we see that having a calling is something for only those going into vocational ministry. In fact, I think it is safe to say that as believers, we all have a calling. The Great Commission was for all Christians, not just those with a title. Sometimes a calling from God might be something as simple as being more open about your faith or honoring God in whatever profession it might be. For example, if ever there was a woman called to be a school teacher, it is my wife. She has a gift for it and uses it to honor God. By doing so, she finds great fulfillment. It can be a call to anything, but if it is a true calling from God, it will always have the ultimate purpose of God being glorified. It is different for each of us; in that, we serve a God that is as diverse as He is almighty and loving.

Unfortunately, today many positions of ministry are often looked upon more as a career choice than a calling. Church staffing is often done more with a business model instead of finding places for callings to be fulfilled and gifts to be utilized. I think that is why we see so many ministers dropping out of ministry when things get tough or for having a "backup” plan should it not work out. I think this approach is not taking into account the pull of a true calling on your heart. When God calls you, the pull is tremendous. You can run, but you will be miserable. Even in the worst of my days as a Pastor, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

I remember a conversation from years ago, after one of my very first sermons, which by the way was terrible. After the service, I had an older gentleman come to me in tears and said “I wish I had done what you’ve done and listened when God was calling me to preach. My life would have been so different.” It is not the only such conversation I have encountered over the years. Some resist the calling until later in life only to regret all the missed opportunities to fulfill it sooner. Some resist forever and carry that regret with them to their grave. If God is calling you, you need to answer as soon as possible whatever the calling may be.

Again, I can’t tell you if God is calling you. But I can give you some pointers I learned when navigating my own calling. Perhaps they will help you. While these pointers deal primarily with a call to full-time ministry, I think they could apply to any call God is giving you.

1. No one else can answer the question for you.

Only through prayer and careful discernment can you find the answer. Others can help confirm what God is doing in your heart, but ultimately it is your decision to heed the call or not. God will open the rights doors for you if it is truly Him calling you. He may also shut other doors. It will take time and prayer to discern.

2. God’s calling will not contradict his word.

This probably goes without saying, yet I would feel remiss without saying it. God is not going to call you to do anything that contradicts or does not align with the teachings of His holy scripture. If you want to be sure of your calling, then you have to spend time in his word.

3. Often, God’s calling will go against your personal nature.

God knows your true gifts better than you know yourself. Yes, we are often called according to our giftedness. But more times than not, it is the hidden gifts that God sees in us that are behind the calling. I think God does this so there is no question as to whom it is behind the calling. How many times in scripture do we see people saying to God “But I can't…”? Moses told God he could not do public speaking. Yet, he obviously could handle it and until he could handle it himself, God gave him Aaron to help fulfill his calling. God will always make a way.

I can relate to Moses. I hated the idea of public speaking. I had gone out of my way to avoid it at all costs. In school, I even took failing grades on oral presentations because I hated the idea of speaking in front of a group. Yet, God kept giving me opportunities to speak in church and elsewhere. I hated it at first. It would literally make me sick to my stomach. But I was willing. And despite those early bad sermons, God kept opening doors. And now I do it two or three times a week or more and love it. And hopefully, my sermons have improved. Standing in that pulpit is now my favorite thing to do. I get excited thinking about doing something that once frightened me.

Your calling may be to speak to someone one on one. To you, that might scare you to death. It could be anything and it might make you uncomfortable. However, what I learned is that once I did the uncomfortable things associated with my calling, I knew it had to be a calling from God because on my own I would never have done it. This brings me to my next point.

4. God is not interested in excuses.

There really is only one reason to not answer your calling. You don’t want to. That is it. There is no other reason, because any excuse you can come up with, God can answer and take away. Abraham and Sarai told God they were too old. Turns out with God’s help, they weren’t too old. Gideon and Jeremiah both said they were too young. Turns out they weren’t either. Jonah at least was honest about his excuse. He just didn’t want to. But he still did…with God’s help. And boy was his method of helping Jonah answer his call convincing! I could go on and on with biblical examples of people making excuses and God using them anyway.

My excuse was that I couldn’t do public speaking. Turns out I could with God’s help. That is the key. If He is calling you, he will equip you for the calling, whatever it is. It really is a wonder to watch as God’s calling unfolds in your life. You will see miracles.

5. God's call doesn't necessarily all come at once.

You do not have to understand it all at first. God wants your willingness and your trust. Leave the understanding to Him. That is what it means to walk by faith. I did not know at the beginning what it really meant to be a full-time minister. My title changed several times over the years. One stage led to another and then another. Even today, I am doing things I never dreamed of when I first surrendered to the call. But at the heart of it all, I am still doing what He called me to do. Again, our God is as diverse as he is wise. As times change, so might His calling.

6. There will be others and even loved ones that will not understand.

Though they mean well, there will be friends and family that might question your decisions as you answer the calling. Some may never get it. I have been preaching for thirty years and to this day I still have family that get surprised when something is said about my being a Pastor. I’ve been doing ministry since I was 18, yet to them it is hard to see me as anything other than the boy with whom they grew up. Likewise, it is hard to understand a calling if you do not have a personal relationship with God yourself. Part of answering God's call is determining in your mind right now that God's will comes before the opinions of others.

Keep in mind though, as you are doing this, you are in good company. Jesus’ own family and hometown didn’t appreciate His calling either. In fact, in Nazareth, we are told that Jesus was unable to perform miracles because of the lack of faith of its inhabitants (Mark 6:5-6). You would think that His hometown would be the most accepting place of all. Wrong. They simply didn’t understand.

7. God will provide a way for you to fulfill your calling if you are willing.

In addition to the above point of having loved ones not understand, I also had family and even Christian college advisors tell me that I needed to have a backup plan in case this did not work out. Real encouraging, huh? That shows me a lack of understanding of what it means to be called. There is nothing wrong with making sure you have financial security, but for one that is called, there is no backup plan. It is what I am. I will find a way to preach even if I have to do something else to provide financially. I will always be a preacher. It is my calling. You will know this feeling for yourself with your calling.

If your call is to full-time vocational ministry, be aware that as times change, and there are fewer and fewer “full-time” ministers, you will probably encounter this argument more and more. Just be true to your calling. God will provide all that you need. This includes finances and spiritual gifts.

8. We have an enemy that would like nothing better than to see you abandon your calling.

Along with others, not understanding, you might even face ridicule and attack. This is true of all Christians. But for those on the frontlines of ministry, it is especially true. Again, you are in good company. Of the twelve disciples, eleven died as a result of their calling. John didn’t die a martyr’s death but did spend most of his life in prison.

God’s calling is not always an invitation to an easy life. It is usually the opposite. Oftentimes, it is for these tasks God has to call us because not many would just do it for the sake of doing it. They are often difficult paths. Yet, you will know great joy and great peace when you know you are in the center of God’s will for your life. So do not let our enemy convince you to abandon what for you will be a life of great blessing.

9. If you are truly called, you will not be satisfied doing anything else.

Whatever your calling may be, you will not find the satisfaction that is found in saying yes to God’s call in anything else. No matter the difficulties you may face, the joys will most likely outweigh them. And even to try and fail by the world's standards is better than living a life of regrets and what if’s. But thankfully, God doesn’t look at our successes or failures by the same standards as the world. God is more interested in your willingness than in your abilities or your shortcomings. In fact, your willing heart may be the ultimate purpose of the calling he is placing in your life. Do not miss out on His life-changing call in your life.

Are you willing?