Figuring Out God’s Call

If you’ve been in Christian communities for a while, you’ve liked heard a lot of talk about “following God’s call”, “discerning your life’s calling”, or “God’s will, God’s way”.

Knowing that God is in control, that His plan is best, should bring us peace. Instead, because of the mystery around God’s call for our individual lives, these phrases may stress us out.

I can’t say I’ve entirely figured out God’s call, what it means or whether or not my future plans align with what God’s will is for me. But I’ve been trying to listen to what God has been showing me about His calling on my life, and I hope my story brings you encouragement on your own walk with God.

A Change in Perspective

As I’ve shared before, last fall ended up being a season of discouragement, anxiety, and overwhelming emotions. Yet God showed up for me in many ways, including giving me signs of hope.

One of these signs was the symbol of an anchor. It kept popping up when I needed direction from God, and whenever I saw it, I would be reminded that God was looking out for me.

Shortly after I removed myself from a toxic environment (the source of my stress), the pastor of the church I grew up in contacted me.

For context, I have had a variety of experiences at this church, both good and bad, but when I moved out, I had planned on finding a new church community. Yet God wasn’t done with me there.

My pastor asked if I’d be interested in an internship in the Children’s Ministry (where I had been an active volunteer), to which I couldn’t see any reason to say no. After all, I was about to start looking for a new job and this felt like an area where I could be impactful. So I agreed.

However, she made it clear that she wanted me to feel called to this position, to not take it for any other reason. To be honest, when I said yes (after praying and asking others for prayer), I really didn’t feel a strong tug from the Lord telling me to take the job. That concerned me, yet I felt like saying yes wouldn’t contradict anything I knew about God.

Over time, through both unexpected joys, abundant appreciation, and several confusing and difficult situations, I began to fall into the rhythm of this role. Thanks to the compassionate leadership of my pastors/supervisors, as well as the congregation, they offered me a more permanent position at the church.

When this was presented to me, I was struggling to find direction in my life. I wasn’t sure where I was going to live next year, whether or not I wanted to stay at the same university, or where God was taking me next. I felt utterly stuck.

I had a few doubts, yet again I couldn’t find a reason to say no to the job. After all, it had been fulfilling, met many people’s needs, and seemed like something God would want me to do. Yet no clear nudge from God directly.

It wasn’t until this past week, after working there for over six months, that God gave me the sign: an anchor.

Our previous theme for Children’s Ministry was space, and out of the blue, one of the pastors decided we should rebrand to nautical/beach theme. As I was preparing a flyer for our fall events, a page of anchors popped up, perfectly fitting our new theme and reminding me that God has been writing my story all along, even when things didn’t make sense to me in the moment.

God was affirming that I’m right where He wants me to be.

Anchored in Understanding

I used to believe that I had to have a clear, direct sign from God telling me to do things before I could make a decision. While this is sometimes true, it can be an excuse to procrastinate or lead us to believe God isn’t speaking, when perhaps His volume is more of a whisper than a shout.

When we get to know God, we will have a better understanding of His call on our lives. We can make decisions the way He would.

Think about it this way:

If you know someone well, say your best friend, close relative, or significant other, you could probably make decisions on their behalf. You know what really ticks them off and what brightens their day. You can help them make decisions because you know what matters to them above all else.

When we get to know God, we won’t have to second-guess our decisions. Things may not always feel plain and simple, yet we can trust that we are following God’s plan for our lives.

Today, I encourage you to step out in courage and do something you’ve been debating. Before making a decision, ask God for guidance and think about what He would do in this situation.

But ultimately, trust what you know to be true about God’s character. He loves you so very much, and He will lead you on the path towards spreading that love to others.

The plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.

Psalm 33:11