How can I find my spiritual calling?
Discovering your spiritual calling is an important part of the Christian life. Here is a 9000 word guide on how to find your spiritual calling according to the Bible.
What is a Spiritual Calling?
A spiritual calling refers to a person’s unique purpose and mission in life as designed by God. It is the work or role that God has specifically prepared for each believer to carry out in service to Him. Scripture teaches that God has carefully crafted each person and gifted them accordingly to fulfill this calling.
Ephesians 2:10 says “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” This shows that spiritual callings are not random but have been orchestrated by God.
1 Peter 4:10 declares “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” This illustrates that callings align with our giftings and are meant to serve others.
The Bible uses a variety of metaphors to describe callings and giftings – they are compared to talents, abilities, offices, roles, skills and more. But the central theme is that God has designed each of us with a purpose in mind. Discovering that purpose is key.
Why is Finding Your Calling Important?
Seeking your spiritual calling is vital because it allows you to live out God’s perfect plan for your life and make the greatest impact for Christ. Here are some specific reasons identifying your calling matters:
1. It gives you direction – When you know your calling, you have a clear sense of where to focus your time and energy. You’re able to set goals and priorities that align with God’s will.
2. It brings fulfillment – There is deep satisfaction in doing what you were created for. Walking in your calling gives life meaning and helps you thrive.
3. It utilizes your gifts – Your skills and talents were given to accomplish your calling. Operating in it allows your gifts to flourish.
4. It advances God’s Kingdom – Each person’s calling plays a part in building God’s Kingdom. Fulfilling your role expands His impact in the world.
5. It allows for eternal rewards – Scripture talks about receiving rewards in heaven for faithfully carrying out your calling on earth. Doing so stores up eternal treasures.
6. It pleases God – When you embrace the calling He has for you, it brings joy to the heart of God. He loves seeing His children walk in their purpose.
7. It prevents regrets – Speculating “what if?” about a path not taken is unnecessary when you devote yourself to your calling. No need for regrets.
As this overview shows, identifying your God-given calling is tremendously beneficial both for this life and the next. But how exactly can you go about finding it?
How Do I Discover My Calling?
Discovering your spiritual calling requires prayer, study of Scripture, wise counsel, self-reflection and active exploration. Here are 10 practical tips on how to find your calling:
1. Seek God First
Start by cultivating your relationship with God. Spend time daily in prayer and Bible study. The closer you draw to God, the more He will reveal His calling on your life. Devote yourself to seeking Him above all else.
Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
2. Study Biblical Callings and Gifts
Read passages of Scripture that discuss spiritual gifts and callings. Study examples of biblical characters who fulfilled their God-given callings. Ask the Holy Spirit for revelation as you read.
Ephesians 4:1-16 – Various spiritual gifts are described.
1 Corinthians 12:1-31 – Explains diversity of gifts but unity of purpose.
3. Take Personality and Aptitude Tests
Take some written assessments to identify your innate personality strengths, passions, values and natural abilities. Use these insights to help point toward your calling.
Popular assessments include DISC, StrengthsFinder, Enneagram, etc. While not definitive, these can provide directional help.
4. Identify Your Burdens and Concerns
Pay attention to the issues and needs in the world that weigh most heavily on your heart. Your calling often aligns with the burdens God has given you. What problems do you feel compelled to solve?
Nehemiah 1:1-4 – Nehemiah felt burdened to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. This aligned with his calling as cupbearer.
5. Assess Your Life Experiences
Reflect on the twists and turns of your life journey. Look for themes that reveal your calling through circumstances you’ve encountered. Listen for how God may be speaking through past events.
Joseph’s slavery in Egypt prepared him for his calling to lead the nation and save lives. (Genesis 37-50)
6. Consider Your Talents and Skills
Catalog your natural talents, abilities, and acquired skills. Look for those things that come easily to you. Your spiritual gifts often manifest through talents that flow naturally.
Miriam’s calling aligned with her talent as a musician. (Exodus 15)
7. Listen to Wise Counsel
Seek advice from mature believers who know you well. Listen carefully to their perceptions about the strengths, gifts and purpose they observe in you. Weigh their perspectives.
Proverbs 11:14 – “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”
8. Try Some Volunteering
Bolster your discernment process by volunteering in some ministry contexts that interest you. See if it feels like a good fit. Trying out options can bring clarity.
Volunteering also allows you to start serving right away while still discerning your calling. Don’t be idle waiting for full clarity. Step out.
9. Dreams, Visions and Supernatural Experiences
Some believers receive direct revelation about their calling through dreams, visions, prophetic words, impressions during prayer/worship, or other supernatural means. Be open and attentive to these possibilities.
In Scripture, Abraham, Joseph, Ananias, and Paul all received revelations that helped define their purpose and calling.
10. Listen to Your Spirit
After going through all these steps, listen for confirmation from the Holy Spirit. You’ll sense His peace and joy when your calling aligns with His will. As you seek, He will guide.
Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
By taking all of these prayerful steps, you’ll begin to discern the broad contours of your God-given calling. But calling is a lifelong discovery process. Over time, your sense of specifics will grow through walking out your purpose step-by-step.
Now that we’ve covered how to discern your calling, let’s explore some of the unique kinds of callings found in Scripture.
Biblical Categories of Calling
The Bible presents several broad categories of spiritual callings and giftings that believers can step into. Some key examples include:
– Leadership Callings – Roles focused on guiding, teaching, and overseeing others in various ministry contexts (pastors, elders, overseers, etc).
1 Timothy 3 outlines qualifications for church leaders.
– Creative Callings – Roles utilizing artistic gifts and abilities for Kingdom purposes (artists, musicians, writers, poets, etc).
Exodus 35:30-35 records gifted artisans God called.
– Evangelistic Callings – Roles focused on spreading the Gospel and winning new converts through outreach.
Acts 8:26-40 records the evangelist Philip.
– Discipleship Callings – Roles dedicated to mentoring, teaching, and nurturing other believers in spiritual maturity.
Paul discipled Timothy as recorded throughout 1 & 2 Timothy.
– Mercy-Based Callings – Roles centered on providing care, compassion, healing, and restoration to those in crisis or need.
Dorcas (Acts 9:36) served poor widows through sewing.
– Missionary Callings – Roles focused on advancing the Gospel among unreached people groups and cultures. May involve planting churches.
Paul’s missionary calling is recorded in Acts 13:1-3.
– marketplace callings – Roles focused on ministering Christ in the everyday workplace/marketplace (rather than traditional ministry contexts).
Lydia used her business as a marketplace ministry (Acts 16).
– Intercessory Callings – Roles with a primary focus on prayer and intercession to undergird other ministries.
Epaphras was called as an intercessor (Colossians 4:12-13).
Of course, callings can blend aspects of multiple categories or represent hybrids. The possibilities are diverse, just as God’s people are unique.
Within your broad category of calling, you may also receive more specifics from God over time regarding what populations to focus on, what locations to serve in, and other defining details.
Calling Requires Obedience and Faithfulness
As you discern your general direction of calling, begin taking faithful steps to walk it out. But understand that the full picture will unfold gradually, not all at once. Obedience is required at each stage.
When called to leave his homeland, Abraham obeyed and embarked on the journey “not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8). Similarly, you have to take the first step without knowing everything.
Like Abraham, you can trust that God will lead you on a step-by-step basis. He will make the next aspect of your calling clear at precisely the right time, not necessarily sooner.
Therefore, focus faithfully on what God has currently revealed as you take steps of obedience. Don’t worry about connecting every dot looking forward. Leave that to Him. Release anxiety about future unknowns.
In the meantime, remain faithful in whatever opportunities God has currently placed in front you. Serve diligently wherever you are, developing character and skills that equip you for greater future responsibility.
This principle applied to Joseph as he served faithfully as a slave and prisoner before eventually being released to fulfill his leadership calling to rule Egypt and save lives. (Genesis 37-50). Remain faithful in small things.
It also applies to young David, who continued tending sheep until the timing was right for him to take the throne of Israel (1 Samuel 16). Wait patiently on God’s timing.
In Acts 16, Paul was blocked by the Holy Spirit from certain areas he wanted to minister in. God had people He was preparing for Paul to reach in Macedonia instead. Remain open and flexible to changing course.
In essence, walk faithfully in what you currently know of your calling while awaiting further revelation and opportunity in God’s timing.
Overcoming Hindrances to Calling
Of course, embracing your calling is often easier said than done. All believers will face obstacles and resistance – both internal and external. Here are some common hindrances to walking in your purpose:
Fear – Fear of failure, change, or what others may think can create paralysis. Faith is the antidote. Step forward in dependence on God.
Insecurity – Feelings of inadequacy can make us question whether we could be useful in God’s work. But remember your competency comes from Him.
Distraction – Daily busyness can prevent us from taking time to reflect on calling. Unplug to realign priorities.
Doubt – Listening too much to negative voices and inner skepticism can lead to doubting your gifts and purpose. Shut out the naysayers.
Comparison – Measuring your calling/gifts against others breeds either pride or feelings of inferiority. Both impede purpose. Avoid comparison.
Comfort – The temptation to coast in ease rather than exerting in service requires self-discipline to overcome through commitment to God’s priorities.
Ignorance – Lack of knowledge about possibilities and opportunities online prevent some from maximizing their contribution. Study options.
Pressure – Well-meaning loved ones sometimes pressure us toward options not matching our design. Resist letting others steer your calling.
Seasons – Current family obligations like raising small kids or caring for sick parents may limit options temporarily. Your season will come.
Self-focus – Our own selfish, worldly ambitions easily distract from God’s calling if we’re not careful. Guard your motives.
By prayerfully identifying the obstacles holding you back, you can purposefully demolish them through God’s power. Ask Him for wisdom and strength to stay focused on His purposes for your life. We all face resistance, but we must push through in dependence on Christ. He will help you overcome.
Signs You May be Walking in Your Calling
Since discovering your God-given calling is an ongoing process, you might sometimes doubt whether you’re on the right path. However, there are certain signs that can indicate you are aligned with your purpose:
– You feel a sense of meaning, fulfillment and joy in your efforts, because they fit how God uniquely designed you. It’s hard to manufacture this over the long-haul if you’re out of sync with your gifts.
– You receive affirmation from mature Christians who highlight your giftings and encourage you in this direction. Their feedback provides external confirmation.
– You experience blessing and favor from the Lord. He begins to open doors only He can open.
– You see evidence (spiritual fruit) from your ministry. The Lord is using you to impact people for His Kingdom. Lives are touched.
– You have passion and motivation to invest time in it, even when difficult. It doesn’t feel like drudgery. You’re willing to sacrifice comfort.
– You gain greater skills, experience and confidence the more you walk in this calling. Increased competency and opportunities result. Momentum builds.
– You encounter opposition from spiritual forces. The enemy recognizes this as a God-given assignment, so he resists it. Don’t be deterred.
Of course, these factors require discernment. But taken together, they can provide enduring encouragement that you are headed the right direction. Keep pursuing your calling even through valleys and storms. Breakthrough is coming!
Calling Requires Long-Term Commitment
Finally, it’s vital to understand that embracing your calling is not a short sprint but a lifelong marathon. There will be ups and downs, wins and losses, advances and setbacks. You can’t get derailed by every hurdle. Keep getting up and pursuing God’s purposes.
Galatians 6:9 encourages: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Your calling is worth fighting for long-term.
Receiving clarity on your calling is exciting, but living it out is harder. That’s why resolve, grit, perseverance and endurance are so crucial. You must cement your calling as a top priority regardless of cost.
Jesus continually reminded His followers that walking in Kingdom purposes would require sacrifice and suffering. Don’t expect the path of calling to be easy or comfortable – especially if your calling is high impact. Expect testing. But Jesus walks with you through the fire. He will bring you breakthrough after breakthrough as you keep saying “yes” to Him.
By God’s grace and empowerment, you can fulfill your unique Kingdom assignment and finish your course with no regrets. May you hear the Lord say at the end of your life, “Well done good and faithful servant!” The rewards will far outweigh any trials you had to endure.
Let this survey of the landscape of calling presented in Scripture motivate you to keep seeking the Lord until you gain clarity on your purpose in Christ. You have a vital role to play in God’s work. His plans for you are good – to prosper you and to give you a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Receive courage from these promises as you press forward into the calling He has prepared.