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Purpose, Worth and Wellness, Right Where You Are

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Your Calling and Purpose – 7 Things to Know

March 9, 2022 · In: life

Callings can feel weighty in our lives. How do you know it when you see it? Does it represent my worth and my role in this world? Let’s talk about your calling and purpose – 7 things to know from scripture that will take the pressure off and help you see God more clearly in it all.

Many of us tend to view callings or purposes this way:

A heroic welcome. Applause. An internal and external glow. A sense of accomplishment. A noble purpose, one that will tell off all the haters in our lives.

We expect to find that meaning of life at some point, and even work hard to get there, pursuing education or training or simply showing up again and again.Ā 

Meanwhile, when it comes down to it, it doesn’t happen quite so idyllically.Ā 

But it often is a lot less clear and a lot more work than we expected.Ā 

As we continue to pursue our purposes and our callings, there’s a few things we should make clear. These points will help us in our understanding toward what God wants us to do, and what we pursue in our lives.

Rather listen instead of read? Check out episode 15 of Called Into Being: What to Know About Callings and Purposes.

1. Your calling and purpose two different things.

Your purpose is what you were made to do.

Alternatively, your calling is a prompting toward a certain line of work or way of living. Faithfully, we call this a prompting of the Holy Spirit.

2. As human beings, we have the same purpose.

Our purpose is to know God, and make him known to others.

We glorify him in our everyday lives, get to know him intimately, and share him with others for the good. This is what we were made to do – so it makes sense that it fulfills us the most.

Verse after verse tells us that God wants us reunited with him. One of my favorites is Jeremiah 29:11-13. ā€œFor I know the plans I have for you,ā€ declares the Lord, ā€œplans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.ā€ Usually we stop after that first verse, right? But no – God’s whole purpose is to reconcile us to himself. So all the good he works in our lives is meant to lead us to the greatest good – being reunited with him.

3. Your callings are different from someone else’s.

We are called differently, equipped by God with different talents, experiences, and opportunities. Our overall goal is to glorify God and point others to him. We can do that in many ways – ministry, business, teaching, healing, arts, science, government.

I love that the Bible highlights so many various ways God’s people have served him. For example, there’s Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth in Acts 16; Bezalel, the chief artisan overseeing the construction of the Tabernacle in Exodus 31; the official in charge of the treasury of the Queen of Ethiopia in Acts 8.Ā 

4. Your calling may be for life, or may be for a season.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, ā€œThere is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.ā€ Then it lists out many different activities we undertake: mourning and dancing, planting and uprooting, tearing and mending. ā€œA time to be born and a time to die.ā€Ā 

We go through seasons, just as the earth goes through seasons. Things just don’t stay the same.Ā 

Although our purpose remains the same, our callings may change, especially with season of life. Our needs change, our goals change, our perspective changes. Chances are, what you’re doing now won’t be what you’re doing forever. Or maybe it will shift to a different focus or method.Ā 

This is why, I believe, our callings don’t need to carry the same weight as our purpose (the one we’ve already established, which is knowing God and making him known). We tend to have this pressure to figure out our calling because we believe it’s all we’ll do our whole lives. But whether in the spiritual or secular realm, we often go through many seasons and different callings. That doesn’t have to cause stress or fear – we can trust that God will provide the opportunities to live out our purpose.Ā 

5. Your calling may or may not pay the bills.Ā 

Paul had seasons of supporting himself in the ministry by tent making, as we see in Corinth in Acts 18. It’s where he met Priscilla and Aquila, fellow tentmakers. I’m sure he would tell you his life’s work was preaching the Gospel – and in fact, that’s what he did every chance he got, going to synagogues to talk about Jesus with anyone who would listen. Bible commentaries suggest that he spoke the Gospel even in his workshop, with the many people with whom he came in contact. But he also made it his goal to set an example by working to provide for himself, so as not to become a burden to the churches.Ā 

It’s important to provide for ourselves. It’s important to live out our purpose of knowing God and making him known. They just – might not always go hand in hand. And that’s okay!

I used to think that the only thing worth doing was being on paid ministry staff. Both supporting myself, AND making God known. But God made it clear that that wasn’t my call in life – at least not in that season. He also opened up my eyes to the fact that I could serve him in whatever role or season I found myself in.

Maybe the ministry you start will always be a ā€œside projectā€ and never your career. Or maybe Ā you will be able to do ministry full time. Either way, we can trust in the plan God has for us, and not discern something’s importance by how much money or influence come from it.Ā 

6. We each play our own parts and support each other.Ā 

In 1 Corinthians 5:6-8, Paul says that ā€œthe Lord has assigned each to his task.ā€ In response to arguments over who follows who in the church, Paul says ā€œI planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the now who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.ā€Ā 

Our work isn’t independent of what everyone else is doing. It’s not about who does what task or whose task is more impressive. And it is definitely not our efforts that make things happen. God rewards us, not based on our abilities or accomplishments, but on our obedience.

7. We are co-workers with God to build his kingdom.

It’s not about what we’re doing really at all. We contribute to what he’s building. He doesn’t need us to do the work – he allows us to participate in it with him.Ā 
1 Corinthians 5:5-9 talks about this: we are simply servants. We obey, doing the simple tasks, while God is the one who makes things grow. ā€œFor we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.ā€ (Verse 9)

A phrase I’ve been holding to lately has been, ā€œIt’s not what you’re producing for God, but what God is producing in you.ā€Ā 

In our society, that’s a loss. What about everything we’ve worked for? What about what we have amassed for ourselves?

God tells us – it was never about that. He’s not about efficiency or quarterly earnings or deadlines.Ā It’s all about us being in relationship him. All other things lead to this. That is the real bottom line.Ā 

Also – what freedom! That God invites us into his abundance, so we don’t have to build something for ourselves. He invites us to rest and build with him – a get to, not a have to. Something that doesn’t depend on our own strength or ability.Ā 

As you consider your purpose and your calling, I hope these notes bring clarity. And even more than that – encouragement. Hope. A freedom to take messy and faithful steps forward in obedience.Ā 

Photos via Canva.

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Hi! I'm Jenn Schultz - wife, mom, writer of life-giving words. I share my messy faith journey to empower you to live freely and fully in grace.

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I may have rolled my eyes a little šŸ™„ when the s I may have rolled my eyes a little šŸ™„ when the speaker said he’d be sharing about shalom for Sunday service.

The Hebrew word ā€œshalomā€ means peace, and to me, peace meant no conflict or stress. A lesson on ā€œwe just need to all be nice to each otherā€ seemed belittling.

I was very glad to be wrong that day. The actual meaning of shalom is far richer than I knew:

It’s a state of well-being for all those involved — things as they should be, as God intended them to be. It’s wholeness.

It applies to physical and material wellness, relationships in harmony, as well as personal integrity and honesty. The Greek word for peace, eirene, also includes the reconciliation of God and people.

Shalom is more defined by what it’s for than what it’s against. 

It involves listening. It does not dismiss, nor does it see one group prospering while another suffers. True shalom applies to all. 

It involves commitment and sometimes even sacrifice. There is no silver bullet. (Consider what Jesus did for our eirene.)

It involves love in action. It actively seeks the well-being in all aspects of others. 

It always goes back to God. He is our greatest good.

In light of recent events, I’m thinking about shalom. People are hurting and afraid right now. One decision does not fix broken systems with increasing maternal mortality (which disproportionately affects women of color), expensive and unavailable basic needs, kids in need of homes, and girls and women not being heard and believed.

This isn’t a post to argue one way or another. It’s to say that we have an opportunity to pursue community-building shalom - the true, whole version, not the one-dimensional version I held onto. May we listen to each other attentively, avoid dismissal and diminishing, pray, love like Jesus, and actively pursue shalom - wholeness for all, in all aspects (faith included)!

šŸ‘‰ Did you know the meaning of shalom? I’m telling you, it has been building my faith to study this out. 

#godspeace #livelikejesus #lovelikejesus #butgod #discipleofchrist #christianwomen #womenoffaith #womenofgod #faithjourney #shebelieves #blessedisshe #thebiblesays #dailyencouragement
Need a prayer to help focus your mind and heart fo Need a prayer to help focus your mind and heart for the summer?

You can borrow mine:

Lord, we praise you for how you designed the seasonal shifts. We need to fresh starts. We need fresh air. Your designs are so good.

Thank you for the adventures to come, the family to see, the sunshine, the starry nights.

Thank you for the ice cream, the pools and lakes and oceans, the sunrises and sunsets. 

May we take advantage of the longer days, taking every opportunity to soak up your goodness and spread it around. As we vacation and visit, help us to continually seek you and see you in everything.

Please grow our relationships, with our families and friends and people we haven’t even met yet. May the warm weather encourage us to be warm to one another, as we come out of a season that’s been chilly in more ways than one. 

We pray for bold pursuit of you in this seasons, and pursuit of the calling you have for us. Help us to listen to the truth, when lies threaten to tear us apart.

We praise you for your goodness, faithfulness, and love. We find so much joy and peace in you.

All this we pray in Jesus’s name,
Amen.

NOW YOU šŸ‘‰ What are your specific hopes and prayers for the summer?

#summertimegoals #daysofsummer #summer2022ā˜€ļø #christianmemes #christianmom #faithwalk #faithstrong #faithforward #faithhopeandlove #christianauthorsofinstagram #christianwoman #prayerlife #prayerispowerful #prayingmom #prayingwife #prayingwoman
These days my lack seems bigger than what’s poss These days my lack seems bigger than what’s possible.

Most days I’m exhausted. Nauseous. Uncomfortable. Worried. Knowing all the things I need to do, and not really feeling any of it.

And still God says, ā€œHere’s what I have planned for you to do.ā€ At the same time, I feel like I can’t.

The good news?

ā€œI can’tā€ doesn’t surprise or scare God.

ā€œI can’tā€ isn’t shameful or faithless.

ā€œI can’tā€ is honest.

ā€œI can’tā€ positions you in the perfect place to show up and see what God does.

ā€œI can’tā€ forces you to release the pride that tries to remove God from the equation. (Psalm 10:4 speaks to this.) 

ā€œI can’tā€ means opening it up for God to say, ā€œI can.ā€

But sometimes ā€œI can’tā€ turns into ā€œI won’t.ā€

I think about Esther’s story, in chapter 4, how her cousin seeks out her help to save the Jews. Her initial response? ā€œI can’t.ā€ Her life was on the line. 

Mordecai replies, ā€œDo not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?ā€ (Verses 13-14)

Lately I’m consumed with the concept of the willing heart. God could make us do whatever he wants. And he does send us wake-up calls. (Like a scary storm for Jonah, for example.) But I don’t think he forces us against our will. He leaves it up to us.

We can’t foil God’s great plan for his people. But what do we miss when we say no to God? It hinders our purpose and greatest good. We might miss the chance to see God come through. 

We may not be able. It’s okay — God is. But we can sure show up willing and faithful. God works wonders even when we can’t. 

Can you think of a time when you said ā€œI can’tā€ and God came through? Please share! ā¬‡ļø
On my heart ā¤ļø Keep praying. And may our pray On my heart ā¤ļø

Keep praying. And may our prayers lead to loving and decisive action.

#risenmotherhood #prayerispowerful #christianmoms #womenoffaith #godovereverything #jesusovereverything #dailyhope #dailyfaith #dailyencouragement #faithjourney
I had a terrifying dream last night. It felt real. I had a terrifying dream last night. It felt real.

One of those dreams where you wake up and just want to hug your kids really tightly. Where yesterday’s REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS just fall flat today. 

I opened my eyes and wanted comfort — the distraction kind. The scrolling through emails and pictures and text blurbs kind. Anything to keep me from thinking about that dream.

True comfort wasn’t going to come through distraction, though. My phone stayed on the shelf and I stayed in the moment with God, just praying he would hold me close. I eventually grabbed my phone, but managed to bypass the more colorful social media buttons in favor of the Bible app.

All of this was prepping me for an hour or so later when we received sad family news.

Somewhere in my subconscious, I think God gave me an opportunity to get ready for the reality. For where pretty pictures and online shopping carts and silly videos fail to bring the peace that’s really required. 

Don’t get me wrong. I can scroll and binge-watch and impulse buy with the best of them. But God has been slowly growing me to sit with the things that feel awful and fix my eyes on him instead. Every time I can do this, it gets less overwhelming and easier to make the better choice.

Some things that help?

Go-to comfort scriptures (like Lamentations 3:22-23)
Praying through a Psalm when I don’t have the words
Crying
Practicing mindfulness and gratitude in the moment

How about you? Where do you find comfort that lasts? (It’s practice over perfect here, by the way.)

#restingod #godsloveneverfails #jesusandcoffee #faithfilled #faithjourney #faithstrong #womenofgod #christianwriters #dailyhope #dailyencouragement

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