What is God’s Call for my Life? 

Pick it Up:

Some of the biggest questions that often come up in the Church are, “What is God’s call for my life? And what is God calling me to do?” They’re great questions and usually come from a genuine desire to hear God’s voice and obey Him. But I think we sometimes put too much pressure on the idea of a “call.” We become so afraid of making the wrong move that we freeze, worried we’ll somehow step outside of God’s will for our lives. In doing so, we risk idolizing the idea of a personal calling above the clear truth of the Great Commission.

I’ve especially noticed this among college students. After graduation, there are so many decisions to make—what job to take, where to live, whether to get married, what church to join. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and paralyzed by the fear of missing God’s plan. I’ve been in that place myself, and recently, I feel like the Holy Spirit has been showing me something that’s brought a lot of peace. I want to share that in hopes it encourages others who are in this season too.

& Preach:

This blog post is going to look a little different in the “preach” section. Instead of sharing a list of advice, I’ll be unpacking a few terms that have helped me better understand the concept of God’s call.

There’s a difference between a call and an assignment. A call from God is what He’s gifted and designed you to do. I personally believe a call is unchanging. It’s broader than we often make it out to be. For example, I believe my calling is to help women—especially college-aged—encounter the real Jesus and to lead them in discipleship. I’m deeply passionate about women knowing the real Jesus and growing through spiritual mentoring. We’re not just called to say yes to Jesus, but to follow His way—and that happens through becoming a disciple.

Another example of a calling might be leading worship to help people encounter Jesus through song. Or introducing the nations to Jesus, not just Americans. Or preaching the Gospel so others can know Him. Hopefully you can see how a calling is broad, steady, and confirmed by God, others, and experience. It may take time to discover it, and that’s okay.

An assignment, on the other hand, is more specific—jobs, places, people groups, etc. Assignments shift with seasons. You might go from being a stay-at-home mom to a church secretary to a pastor. Right now, I believe my assignment is to lead a small group. Through that, I’ming help college girls encounter Jesus and grow as disciples. I know I won’t be doing this forever—but I do plan to help women know Jesus for the rest of my life, which is my broader call.

The key to all of this is that our ultimate purpose is to fulfill the Great Commission. This is the universal call from Scripture, from Jesus Himself. We’re all called to make disciples. That will look different for everyone, and that’s where the personal call comes in. Both our calling and our assignments should align with the Great Commission. And we can (and should) be living it out—even before we’ve fully identified our personal call.

All that to say, I think we should be praying about our call. Once we know it, we can ask whether our assignments are helping fulfill it. That mindset takes the pressure off assignments—they’re about living out the call, and ultimately, the Great Commission.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t pray about assignments—but if God seems quiet, maybe it’s because either option could still bring Him glory.

If you want to hear more, check out our podcast episode!

Podcast:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2lkaII48gI9NYM0ijrRjna

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-is-gods-call-for-my-life/id1778314831?i=1000698802363