\u201cI don\u2019t know what God\u2019s doing, but I feel like He\u2019s calling me to do something. What does Jesus want me to do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether you\u2019re a ministry resident weighing the future or a mid-career professional thinking about seminary, the question \u201cAm I called?\u201d can be overwhelming. For many, it represents a major life change, like moving or switching careers. Calling is important, and we\u2019re right to take it seriously. But sometimes we overthink it. Discerning God\u2019s will may not be as complicated as you think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you rush into seminary or take a church job, here are some questions to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The question is broad, but if you believe in Jesus, the answer is simple: \u201cYes!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Peter says you are \u201ca royal priest\u201d who is called to proclaim the excellencies of God (1 Peter 2:9<\/a>). This calling is not vocational but ontological, meaning that it\u2019s more about who we are than what we do. We are all royal priests who proclaim Christ, regardless of whether we work in ministry, or as a CEO, an accountant, or a teacher. So, are you called? Yes, you are called by God to proclaim God\u2014no matter your job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peter has settled the big question. You\u2019re called. However, even with 1 Peter 2:9<\/a>, the feeling that God wants you to do more doesn\u2019t go away so easily. How do we know what Jesus wants us individually to do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reality is that Jesus calls some to leave their boats and others to stay. Peter and Andrew were called to follow Jesus and become \u201cfishers of men\u201d (Matt. 4:18\u201320<\/a>). But, in other cases, Jesus told people to stay. For example, after Jesus freed the Gerasene demoniac, the man begged to follow Him. Instead of letting him join the disciples, Jesus sent him home to tell others what God had done (Luke 8:38<\/a>). For Peter, the calling meant to leave his boat, but for the former demoniac, it meant staying home. The calling was different for each, but their mission was the same: Tell people about Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not all calls to ministry mean leaving your current career. So, how do you know if you\u2019re called to leave the boat or stay? The answer starts with a little honest self-reflection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Start by questioning your internal stirrings. Sometimes, what feels like a calling may simply be discontentment. Some of the same rumblings that make people feel they\u2019re being called into<\/em> the ministry make some ministers believe they\u2019re supposed to leave<\/em> the ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI feel like my job is futile. It never ends and doesn\u2019t feel like it\u2019s going anywhere.\u201d \u201cI want to do something meaningful.\u201d \u201cI want freedom! Think of what I could do if I could just read my Bible and disciple people all day.\u201d These are the sentiments I\u2019ve heard from accountants, teachers, and even police officers who are thinking about selling everything to join a ministry. But I\u2019ve also heard them from pastors<\/em> as they leave the ministry!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ministry, like any vocation, carries futility. God cursed human work, so all jobs have their \u201cthorns and thistles\u201d (Gen. 3:18<\/a>). No job, including ministry, escapes this. Discontentment is discontentment, regardless of the field. Before jumping into something new, ask yourself: Am I really feeling the stirrings of a calling, or is it discontentment that Jesus alone can fix?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next step is accepting that discerning God\u2019s call involves discovery, which takes time. It involves personal reflection and community input. Calling isn\u2019t something you create; it\u2019s something you receive. I\u2019ve found that discovery comes easier when I ask three questions: What are the needs? What are my gifts and passions? What are the opportunities?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your calling will be the intersection of those three things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Calling begins with seeing the needs around you. God does not call us to dream jobs but to service. Whatever your calling is, it was given to you so that you can serve the needs of God\u2019s people. Paul was called to be an apostle to the Gentiles because they needed the gospel (Eph. 3:1\u20137<\/a>). Similarly, Titus stayed in Crete to appoint elders the church needed (Titus 1:5<\/a>). As you consider what ministry God is calling you to do, ask: What needs do I see in my church or community? In what way does the body of Christ need to be built up?<\/p>\n\n\n\n I remember a church planter who said he felt called to a certain community because \u201cThere are thousands of people and hardly any gospel-proclaiming steeples.\u201d God calls us to meet needs, to fill gaps, and to strengthen weaknesses. So, what need is He placing in front of you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n When God calls you, He equips you. Your gifts are given by the Spirit \u201cfor the common good\u201d (1 Cor. 12:7<\/a>). Because they\u2019re from the Spirit, our gifts are not given for comparison but for service. Some may wish they could preach, but every gift, from teaching to hospitality, has equal value in God\u2019s Kingdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alongside gifts, consider your passions. Passion isn\u2019t just about loving something; it\u2019s about loving something so much you\u2019re willing to suffer for it. If you\u2019re passionate about preaching or counseling, you will face challenges in growing that craft. Ministry, like all vocations, requires suffering. What hardships are you willing to endure for the calling God has placed on you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s no ideal ministry; there are just opportunities to serve. Some may seem small or beneath you, but they are often the first steps. Oftentimes, discerning calling doesn\u2019t mean discovering your destination but rather your next step. What does God want you to do next? When assessing your calling, be cautious about dismissing smaller opportunities. Those small opportunities may be big moments through which the Lord develops us into the people He wants us to become.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kevin DeYoung offers valuable advice: \u201cIf God opens the door for you to do something good or necessary, be thankful for the opportunity. But don\u2019t assume that ease or difficulty is a sign of God\u2019s will. God\u2019s will for you is sanctification, and He uses discomfort to make us holy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019ve reflected on your calling and the opportunities in front of you, the next step is growth. Ministry is a craft, and like any craft, growth comes through experience. Training may teach you the theory, but only experience will shape you into a craftsman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Growth in ministry comes as you serve. If you want to preach, teach small groups first or faithfully teach in the children\u2019s ministry (if you can teach kids, you can teach anyone). If you aspire to lead larger ministries, begin by learning to lead smaller volunteer teams. Growth is a process of developing character and skill as you go. The key is to embrace that process and gain experience from whatever opportunities are available, no matter how small.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In all these steps, involving your church in the discernment process is crucial. Calling is never a solo endeavor; it\u2019s a community one. The church plays a key role in helping us identify our gifts, testing them, and assessing what opportunities are best for us to pursue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an article I wrote years ago, I encouraged readers to think of the church as your spiritual gifts test. It is the best place to receive honest feedback on your abilities, your readiness, and even your motives. True calling is affirmed by the community, not just by individual reflection. As we see in Acts 13<\/a>, even though Paul and Barnabas were called by the Holy Spirit, it was the church who affirmed that calling. Timothy\u2019s calling was affirmed by elders (1 Tim. 4:14<\/a>). By God\u2019s design, the church is an indispensable piece of discerning our callings.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Tension: Leave the Boat or Stay?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step One: Question<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step Two: Discover<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1. What Are the Needs?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
2. What Are My Gifts and Passions?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
3. What Opportunities Are in Front of Me?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Step Three: Grow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Confirmation from the Community<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Fulfill Your Calling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n