Chapter 2: "I Have a Calling" — What Does It Mean?
Have you ever felt that quiet whisper inside your soul, nudging you toward something more? Something bigger? Maybe it’s a dream you can’t shake or a pull in your heart you can’t explain. Friend, that’s not just wishful thinking. That’s a calling—a divine invitation from the God who created you on purpose, for a purpose.
When you say, “I have a calling,” what you’re really saying is this: “The Creator of the universe has chosen me for something specific, something holy.” That’s not small. That’s not ordinary. That’s God’s fingerprint on your life.
We All Search for Purpose—But There’s More
Every human heart is on a quest. Deep down, we all hunger for meaning. We long to know we were put on this earth for a reason. The world tells us to chase success, money, and status, but they leave us empty. Why? Because we were made for more than what the world offers.
Os Guinness said it best:
"Deep in our hearts, we all want to find and fulfill a purpose bigger than ourselves. Only such a larger purpose can inspire us to heights we know we could never reach on our own."
That longing inside of you? It was placed there by God. You were wired for more.
But here’s the powerful truth: You won’t find that “more” by climbing a corporate ladder or living for applause. You find it by answering the call of Jesus Christ.
Calling Is More Than a Job—It’s a Kingdom Assignment
So many people think their calling is just about what they do. A career. A paycheck. A title on LinkedIn. But your calling isn’t limited to a job description—it’s a Kingdom assignment.
Colossians 3:23-24 reminds us:
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters... It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
When you understand your calling, it transforms the way you live. Suddenly, you’re not just showing up to work—you’re showing up to serve Jesus. You’re not just parenting your kids—you’re raising world changers. You’re not just starting a business—you’re advancing the Kingdom.
A job pays the bills. A calling fuels your soul.
Your Primary Calling: To Know Jesus
Before you’re called to something, you’re called to Someone.
The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1:9:
"God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
Your first and highest calling is to know Jesus intimately. Everything else flows from there. If you’re chasing a calling but neglecting the Caller, you’ll end up frustrated and burned out. Jesus said in John 15:5, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.”
But with Him?
All things are possible.
Kevin and Kay Brennfleck say it like this:
"Before being called to do, we are called to be."
Be in Christ. Be with Him. Be known by Him. That’s where your calling begins.
Your Secondary Calling: Your Life’s Work
Once you’re anchored in Christ, He leads you into your secondary calling—your life’s work. That’s the specific way you live out your purpose in the world.
Maybe you’re called to be a teacher, a nurse, a preacher, an entrepreneur, or a stay-at-home parent. Maybe you’re called to start a ministry, write a book, or mentor the next generation. Whatever it is, your life’s work is how you live out your love for Jesus in a tangible way.
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."
Did you catch that?
God prepared your assignment ahead of time. Your calling isn’t random. It’s handcrafted by the Master Artist Himself.
How Do You Recognize Your Calling?
Frederick Buechner put it beautifully:
"The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet."
Your Deep Gladness
What lights you up? What stirs your heart? God often reveals our calling through the passions and talents He’s given us.
Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
That doesn’t mean He gives you whatever you want. It means He plants the right desires inside you and then brings them to life.
The World’s Deep Hunger
The world is desperate for hope. For healing. For truth. God places callings on our lives to meet those needs.
Matthew 9:37-38:
"Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.'”
You are an answer to someone’s prayer. Your calling is the bridge between heaven and earth in someone else’s life.
Your Calling Will Change Lives—Including Yours
Think about Moses. He wasn’t looking for a calling—he was hiding out in the wilderness. But God called him from a burning bush and said, “I am sending you.”
Think about Mary. She was living a quiet life when the angel Gabriel told her she would carry the Son of God. She said yes. And history was changed.
When you say yes to your calling, you step into God’s story for your life—and you change the world around you.
1 Peter 4:10 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace.”
When You Say Yes, God Makes a Way
You might be thinking, “I’m not qualified. I don’t have what it takes.”
Good news: God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called.
Remember what Jesus said in John 4:34?
"My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work."
Jesus was laser-focused on His mission. His strength came from doing the Father’s will.
The same is true for you.
When God calls you, He equips you.
Philippians 1:6 promises, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Take the Next Step Toward Your Calling
So, how do you walk it out?
- Seek Jesus first. Spend time in His presence and listen for His voice.
- Pay attention to your passions, gifts, and the needs around you.
- Step out in faith, even when it’s scary. Faith pleases God (Hebrews 11:6).
- Trust that God will open doors no one can shut (Revelation 3:8).
- Stay humble and teachable. Your calling is about God’s glory, not yours.
Final Word: You Have a Calling—Now Walk in It!
You have a calling. It’s not just for a chosen few—it’s for you.
Jesus is calling you to live a life that matters, to step out of the ordinary, and to walk in purpose.
He said in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Don’t settle for less.
This is your moment.
1.Step into the story God is writing for you.
2. Embrace the calling that’s been prepared in advance for your life
3. And run your race with passion, purpose, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Your calling is waiting. And Jesus is inviting you to follow Him.