The feeling of being directed towards an action or function based on who you are is not by mistake. More importantly, it means you are discovering a personal calling in your life, and every person can be called in a different way.
A calling is based on the communication we receive from the Holy Spirit and how we can implement it into our daily lives. Understanding not only what a calling is, but how it can affect our work, social, and daily lives will allow us to understand where we fit in God’s higher purpose for our lives.
Highlights
- Everyone has a calling, but callings can take different forms. As a whole, Christians share a universal calling to follow Jesus and exemplify who He is in our daily lives, while each person has individual callings that reflect the unique ways God creates us.
- A calling may develop or take shape over time. As the story of Job reflects, a calling does not have a clear road map; it shows that a unique calling involves the unknown and mysterious road God does have us on.
- A calling is bigger than a career. A vocation, which could become a profession, can be an expression of one's calling. However, you can fulfill your calling in the way you serve, grow in character, build relationships, and faithfully live out your life.
- Discovering your calling is a process. Through acts of prayer, Scripture, trusted relationships, personal gifts, experiences, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you can understand how God may be leading you.
What is a Calling?
Calling is a term you may have heard quite often, from being called to go into vocational ministry (working at a church full time) or being called to speak to a person on your morning walk. But when studied in Scripture, you'll find that calling carries great importance in each of our lives, no matter what God has equipped you for in any field you pursue.
There are a few great ways to learn what a calling is and how it affects our daily lives. The
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines calling as “a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action, especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence.” We can find historical examples of a calling through how others have lived theirs out. Abraham was called by God to lead God’s people out of Egypt and into the Holy Land (Exodus 3). Peter was called to leave his fishing career behind to become a disciple of Jesus Christ (Matthew 4). Through Scripture and historical evidence, one can deduce that calling can be broken up into two meanings and usages.
- A universal or ultimate calling is derived from a calling all believers are called to. This calling is an open invitation not only to hear the words of the Gospel, but to live them out daily (Timothy 2:3-4). The call goes beyond just accepting it to choosing to walk as Jesus did, bringing glory to God in all we do (Matthew 5:48). Through this, we are also called to share the Gospel throughout all of the world (Mark 16:15).
- The individual calling is where it will look different for each and every person. Just as Moses was called to a role God planned for him (Exodus 3), the same is true for you. Each person is blessed with a unique calling from God based on who He has created us to be, what spiritual gifts we have, and where God has placed us in our lives (Romans 12).
Examples of Calling in Scripture
The Story of Job
The story of Job often stands out to readers of the Bible, as it tells the story of one man losing everything, but trusting in God. There is no other book of the Bible quite like it, yet it tells a powerful story. In Job 1, we see that Job truly had it all, from wealth and social standing to a reputation and healthy family. He was a man who is described as “blameless and upright,” putting his faith in God and turning from evil. From Job and his story of how he went from having a settled life to losing it all, we can understand calling through two narratives.
Calling is not always as clear as it appears, but goes beyond what we do and wherever we find ourselves. For Job, his calling may have looked entirely different earlier in his life before he had lost it all. He may have felt his calling to be raising a healthy family or being a light to his community to show what integrity for the Lord may look like, yet as his life unfolded, his calling shifted. It became a calling of perseverance, challenging his faith, and having to trust God as his life continued to unfold in unexpected ways (Job 2:9-10). Job receives a renewed awareness of who God is and how he plays a role in God’s great kingdom. A calling may not be just answering our individual question as “What specific thing am I supposed to do?” but diving deeper and asking, “Who am I becoming wherever I find myself as I faithfully respond to God’s call?”
The Story of the Apostle Paul
The Apostle Paul’s testimony is a great example of hearing God’s voice and not only changing what we may have once believed, but changing how we live out God’s calling through our work. Before Paul became the great writer we know from Scripture, a confessing believer, and one who followed Christ above all, his name was actually Saul, and he intentionally persecuted those who did follow Christ. In 1 Corinthians 15:9, Paul speaks about how he is the least worthy to be called an apostle due to his past actions of persecuting the church.
Paul was changed by a miraculous act from God, showing how God specifically wanted to use Paul for His kingdom to spread the good news of the Gospel. During one of his journeys on the road from Jerusalem to Damascus, Paul was struck blind, and after three days of not being able to see, God used Ananias to restore His sight (Acts 9:1-17). Since that moment in time, God specifically invited Paul to join in His universal calling for followers of Christ. Paul also recognized his individual calling in his vocation — using his gifts of writing for the God-breathed Scripture, communicating Christlike livelihood to the churches, and above all, living for the glory of God in belief and obedience.
Calling can be applied to all aspects of the lives we live, but not necessarily changing the core parts God created in each of us. With the story of Paul, we can see that God can entirely flip someone’s life upside down for the purpose of growing His kingdom, but that does not mean God will erase who He created you to be. Through a lifelong process of growth, surrender, and formation, Paul understood God’s unique calling for his life by choosing to surrender all he believed each and every day. Before Saul became Paul, he was committed to the work he was doing, believing it was right (in his eyes), doing so with the gifts God had given him. His story can help you make the point that calling is not always about discovering a purpose when you have none. Rather, it means allowing God to challenge the purpose, identity, or direction you have already chosen and redirecting those qualities toward serving Christ and others.
In both Job’s and Paul’s stories, they can remind us that calling may have less to do with receiving a perfect map for our lives and more to do with faithfully becoming the people God calls us to be, even when the road changes unexpectedly.
Is There a Difference Between a Profession and Calling?
The simple answer is yes. A vocational calling is something anyone can have. It refers to a function or activity we pursue by following and becoming like Jesus. For Christians, vocation can be applied to all we do from careers, relationships or activities we pursue. On the other hand, a profession refers to a professional career requiring special knowledge, training, and qualifications.
God equips each of us with unique gifts, talents, and skills, so that we can often bring our vocation and profession together. This is where you may pursue Jesus and live for Him within a particular career. For example, nursing may become a part of your vocational calling if you are called to serve others through intentional care and provide technical assistance to meet patients at their needs.
Explore the in-depth relationship of the difference between vocation and a profession.
How Do I Pursue My Calling?
A calling is a special part of each of our lives and should be given much thought, prayer, and discernment. Often, people will use their vocational calling toward their profession they decide to pursue. However, not every profession fits with or is your vocational calling. Sometimes a vocational calling will be an entirely separate part of our lives from our professions. Learning what our individual calling is looks different for every person — for some, it can take the snap of a moment, while for others it may take many years.
To understand how to pursue your calling, dive into a variety of activities, from spiritual practices, deep conversations with others, and more.
Here are just a few recommendations for pursuing your calling. For more tips for your profession, read Vocation vs. Profession: What’s the Difference?
1. Spend time in prayer.
Finding your vocation often involves doing a deep dive into what you are passionate about and interested in. Who better to go to than God, the one who knows all things?
Spend some time praying and asking God to reveal to you where your desires and passions lie and ask Him for wisdom for how to pursue those passions.
2. Speak to those you trust.
You can often learn a significant amount about yourself when speaking to others you spend intentional time with. People are natural observers and can tell you the strengths and weaknesses they see in you, which may provide insight into what your calling is.
3. God has equipped you.
Pursuing an action, job, person, or function may feel daunting. The great news is that God has provided us with the tools and skills we need to follow the plan He has in store for each and every single one of us. With the Holy Spirit by your side, through following Jesus, we are guided through each step in our journeys.
4. Work with all your heart.
Finally, keep in mind this timeless guidance from the Apostle Paul: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23–24)
Remember that whatever you end up doing, you can do with all your heart. Hopefully, this will give you a sense of purpose knowing that God watches over everything you do, regardless of what that may be.
Pursue Your Calling at PLNU
Understanding and pursuing your calling, whether that is vocationally or in a profession, is not an easy task. It is always beneficial to surround yourself with a strong community to learn about a profession or activity through the lens and mission of Jesus. At PLNU, a college experience is about more than getting a degree — it’s about helping you discover who you are called to be.
One of the many vocational callings that can be turned into a profession is Christian ministry. All Christians are called to serve God and others, but many are also called to dedicate themselves to ministry as a profession. If that’s you, consider equipping yourself further in this area by obtaining a Master’s in Christian Ministry.
PLNU offers you an amazing program that will ensure that you become fully equipped to live out the calling God has placed in your life. It combines a strong ministry component with rigorous academics and is ideal for practicing and aspiring ministry workers.