I have often heard people talking about having no idea of what God has called them to do and I have also heard people express the fear that if they draw closer to God and really listen, then He will call them to be a missionary in Africa. Most folks are not interested in doing that, so what do they do?
They keep God at an arm’s length. Sure, they will attend church on Sunday and maybe even Sunday school, but that’s as close as they are willing to get. Everyone remembers the Jonah story and if we are really honest with ourselves, no one wants to go to Ninevah. (It was located in what is now Iraq.) Still don’t want to go, right?
By the way, I feel the same way. I have no interest in doing missionary work abroad, but that’s because I haven’t been called to do that. Have you ever listened to missionaries talk about the work they do? Their eyes sparkle and come alive as they talk about living in huts and eating only rice. Why do you think they are so passionate about what they do?
Because, they are doing what they have been called to do. Most of us aren’t called to travel far and wide to spread the love of Jesus on a regular basis. Most of us are called to spread the Good News right where we are, where we work, where we live, where our children attend school. We have already been planted where we are supposed to be.
Think about it this way. What do apple trees produce? Apples, right? Does God ever call an apple tree to produce pears? No, because He personally designed it to produce apples. That’s what He wants it to produce.
The Bible tells us in Psalm 139, that we were “knit together in our mother’s womb.” The Knitter had a plan from the beginning. We already have what we need to answer our call to serve. We all have certain gifts and talents; when they are combined with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we have unique abilities to fulfill our calling. (our unique calling) You can find a list of them in 1 Corinthians 12.
No two people are the same, so no two people are called to serve in the exact same way, at the exact same place, at the exact same time. That is part of God’s master plan.
Take a look around and see how you are already serving. You may be doing exactly what you are called to do. If you don’t think you are, pray for guidance. You are probably not that far from where you need to be, and if you are, you probably know that somewhere deep inside. He calls you to be uniquely you and no one else. He calls you to be passionate about Him.
The point is, fear not; draw closer to God. He will point you in the direction you need to go and it’s probably not Ninevah. Don’t you want to find out?
Let me know what you think. I’d love to hear from you.
Have an awesome day.
Wendy 🙂