Your calling

You may have read in many sources (online, books, etc.) that your calling has to do with your gifts and talents.  Yes, the Lord can definitely sanctify and use our gifts and talents for His glory and purposes.

But then why did God call the following people for the following tasks?

Moses had a stutter, was a murderer, and was not very brave.  Yet God chose him as His mouthpiece and leader to His people.  He entrusted the Ten Commandments to Moses!

Peter was ambitious, unreliable, and impetuous.  Jesus made Peter His rock on which He built His church.

Isaiah was a man of unclean lips (he had a potty mouth).  God chose him to be His most important prophet to speak to Israel and foretell of Christ's identity as the Messiah!

Noah struggled with getting drunk. God used him to literally save the world, and animal, population.

Where in the world did we ever get the idea that God chooses "upstanding" citizens?!?

It is just the opposite!

God chooses the weak and foolish so that He gets all the glory!  That is but one reason.

So instead of looking to "your" gifts and talents to know your calling, I suggest looking at your weaknesses, faults, and flaws.  Then God can really use you!

I am not worthy.  I cannot speak.  They won't believe me.

These are but a few of the many excuses people give the Lord when He calls and chooses them for His very important purposes.

David was a very gifted songwriter.  But that wasn't his purpose.  His heart was for God.  God chose him to be king, knowing full well that David would trip up bigtime.  

If you apply today's mindset onto these giants of old, you see just how ludicrous they are.

Can you imagine David saying, "I'm going to be the best songwriter for God!"  

Or Moses saying, "I'm going to be the greatest leader ever!"

Yet many of todays "preachers" tell us to do just that - promote and use what we have "for God."  As if God needs our help!

No.

These men and women of God simply loved God.  They proved it by their obedience to Him.  

They didn't "set out" to accompish anything on their own.  They weren't "goal setters."  Everything that the world, and many Christians, laud today is not how God operated or operates.

If God calls you, it will have nothing to do with your innate abilities whatsoever.  In fact, it may be your weaknesses and flaws that He uses more!

How can I say this?  Examples are all over the Bible!  God hasn't changed His ways, we have.  

The few examples that I list here are but a few.  Read for yourself the types of people God chose!  Crack open a Bible!

All that we are called to do is to be an outflowing of our relationship with Him.  It is not us forcing things, or making our way, or even in goal setting (so very popular nowadays!).

People can set all sorts of "good" goals that may or may not be God's calling for them at all!  Remember, the devil is happy to use "good" when he can't get you do to evil.

So how do you discern what God is calling you to do?  

It can take time.  It's not always "instant."  When you truly belong to God and want to be used by Him, there will always be a season of preparation.  That "season" can take years, decades even.

Look to the Word for your inspiration!  None of the Bible heroes that we look up to ever "set out" to do "great things" for God - God is the one who does the calling!  We simply trust and obey!

It seems, then, that the modern church has it backwards.  They are so gung ho to make things happen as opposed to actually waiting on God that sometimes, they do more harm than good in the Kingdom.

God is not impressed with our efforts!  He is God!

Yes, we have a job to do and we have our part to play.  But God alone does the choosing and calling!

David, Moses, Abraham, Paul, Mary, Joseph - none of these people of God chose who they were in God's plan.  God had His mark on them and called them into His purposes.  God sought them, not vice versa!

Yes, we are to seek the Lord.  We do so out of love and honor.  

But when it comes to our calling, it is entirely up to the Lord how, when, where, and to what He calls us!

If we're not listening to Him, or if our own agenda is still "god," then He can't use us.

What if you never hear from Him?  Many are called, few are chosen, Jesus told us.

He knows who to call and who to choose!  He knows our hearts.  He knows who will say yes to Him no matter the cost.

So if you are one of those who wants to know their calling in life, then my advice to you is to wait on God, trust in Him, don't force anything, and believe that He knows exactly what He is doing!  If it's your turn, He won't be late!

Dear Lord.  Thank You for calling us and choosing us.  Help us to never forget that our walk with You, our purpose first and foremost, is to know You.  Out of our relationship with You, You tell us what to do when and if we need to do it.  Thank You that we have been chosen for the praise of Your glory! In Jesus' Name.  Amen.