Am I Going the Right Way?
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; don’t rely on your own intelligence. Know him in all your paths, and he will keep your ways straight.” - Proverbs 3:5-6 (CEB)
Like most, the two years leading up to my high school graduation were challenging - for many reasons. I am grateful to have grown up in the Church and in Christian schools, but the questions my seventeen and eighteen-year-old-self received felt pretty weighty. While my cousins (outside of our circle) were asked about their career aspirations, I was asked about God's will for my life. It felt like a very important question that I needed to have the answer to, but didn’t. Even more than that, I was terrified of getting it wrong. I wanted God’s best for my life; but based on the context I was given in my traditional and very religious expression of the Church, discerning God’s will felt like a high stakes game of hide-and-seek. I stayed bound to those feelings of fear for many years.
I’ve unlearned and relearned so much about God and His Word since that time. Now, every chance I get to sit across from a high school or college student in the throws of decision-making, I say, “I’m sorry. I know it’s hard and the pressure is a lot, but keep listening to His voice. He will work all of the pieces together for your good and His glory. Don’t carry the weight of trying to figure it all out now.”
Over the years that we have been here at Opendoor, I have heard Pastor Aaron say dozens of times, “It’s more important who you are called to than what you are called to do,” and “God cares a lot more about who you are becoming than what you are doing.” It’s the second statement that always puts things into perspective for me.
Who am I becoming? Well, the New Testament makes it clear that we are to continually be in the process of becoming more and more like Jesus, and that happens through the work of the Holy Spirit who transforms us from the inside out. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (CEB) says, “All of us are looking with unveiled faces at the glory of the Lord as if we were looking in a mirror. We are being transformed into that same image from one degree of glory to the next degree of glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” The outpouring of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives will look a lot like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
We know we are walking in alignment with God, when we are sensitive to His voice and continually surrendering to the work of the Holy Spirit within us. He will order our steps.
You may still be thinking, “Be like Jesus, follow the Holy Spirit–I’ve got it. But I still don’t know what I’m called to.” I get that. And I would suggest that you prayerfully consider these questions, as they may be helpful indicators towards the right direction:
As I have worked through these questions in my own life over the last few years, here are a few of the things I have landed on. (You’ll notice that none of them are specific to a job or title, but it’s ok if yours are!)
Because these things fuel me to my core, I believe this is part of the work God has called me to do. And I can do this on the soccer field during my sons’ games, sitting in conversations with family members who don’t yet share my same faith, and across the table from a friend at a coffee shop. This doesn’t mean it will be easy or without disappointment. In fact, these things should challenge my faith and require a greater dependence on Him. I will crash and burn if I try to do these things in my own strength. But I know with everything in me that this is what I want to spend my life doing in one way or another. And my prayer is that you will find those things too.
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, teach me to become more like Jesus. Open my eyes to the things that You have called me to do. Help me not to seek after temporary things but to give my time and attention intentionally. God, I want Your best for my life. I ask that Your presence would be so tangible and that I would know and follow Your voice each and every day. And when I misstep, help me to revel in Your abundant grace. Thank You for being such a good Father. Amen
Like most, the two years leading up to my high school graduation were challenging - for many reasons. I am grateful to have grown up in the Church and in Christian schools, but the questions my seventeen and eighteen-year-old-self received felt pretty weighty. While my cousins (outside of our circle) were asked about their career aspirations, I was asked about God's will for my life. It felt like a very important question that I needed to have the answer to, but didn’t. Even more than that, I was terrified of getting it wrong. I wanted God’s best for my life; but based on the context I was given in my traditional and very religious expression of the Church, discerning God’s will felt like a high stakes game of hide-and-seek. I stayed bound to those feelings of fear for many years.
I’ve unlearned and relearned so much about God and His Word since that time. Now, every chance I get to sit across from a high school or college student in the throws of decision-making, I say, “I’m sorry. I know it’s hard and the pressure is a lot, but keep listening to His voice. He will work all of the pieces together for your good and His glory. Don’t carry the weight of trying to figure it all out now.”
Over the years that we have been here at Opendoor, I have heard Pastor Aaron say dozens of times, “It’s more important who you are called to than what you are called to do,” and “God cares a lot more about who you are becoming than what you are doing.” It’s the second statement that always puts things into perspective for me.
Who am I becoming? Well, the New Testament makes it clear that we are to continually be in the process of becoming more and more like Jesus, and that happens through the work of the Holy Spirit who transforms us from the inside out. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (CEB) says, “All of us are looking with unveiled faces at the glory of the Lord as if we were looking in a mirror. We are being transformed into that same image from one degree of glory to the next degree of glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” The outpouring of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives will look a lot like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
We know we are walking in alignment with God, when we are sensitive to His voice and continually surrendering to the work of the Holy Spirit within us. He will order our steps.
You may still be thinking, “Be like Jesus, follow the Holy Spirit–I’ve got it. But I still don’t know what I’m called to.” I get that. And I would suggest that you prayerfully consider these questions, as they may be helpful indicators towards the right direction:
- What am I naturally skilled at? What things / situations / people are interesting and life-giving to me?
- What makes me really angry? (Seriously. This is a great question to ask yourself, and it often points to an underlying issue that you may be very passionate about and could help resolve through a business, trade, or ministry.)
- Who am I influencing? Who are the people around me and what questions are they asking me?
- What are my parents, mentors/leaders, and others in my community saying?
As I have worked through these questions in my own life over the last few years, here are a few of the things I have landed on. (You’ll notice that none of them are specific to a job or title, but it’s ok if yours are!)
- I care a lot about seeing people’s faith restored in both God and His Church.
- I want to teach others who are searching for a deeper, richer faith how to know God through His Word, hear His voice, and experience His presence in their everyday lives.
- I want to openly share the stories of my life and “go first” in following Jesus, keeping the faith, and bringing others along the way.
Because these things fuel me to my core, I believe this is part of the work God has called me to do. And I can do this on the soccer field during my sons’ games, sitting in conversations with family members who don’t yet share my same faith, and across the table from a friend at a coffee shop. This doesn’t mean it will be easy or without disappointment. In fact, these things should challenge my faith and require a greater dependence on Him. I will crash and burn if I try to do these things in my own strength. But I know with everything in me that this is what I want to spend my life doing in one way or another. And my prayer is that you will find those things too.
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, teach me to become more like Jesus. Open my eyes to the things that You have called me to do. Help me not to seek after temporary things but to give my time and attention intentionally. God, I want Your best for my life. I ask that Your presence would be so tangible and that I would know and follow Your voice each and every day. And when I misstep, help me to revel in Your abundant grace. Thank You for being such a good Father. Amen
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1 Comment
This really spoke to me as I am progressing through a season of grief. My husband of 40 years was blessed with a miracle of a double lung transplant 7/3/19 and he passed 8/14/21 with metastatic skin cancer. I can definitely see that my Who I am becoming since Dan was promoted to Heaven. God has put so many people in my life that I am using my gift of helps. I have been so focused on the what … your questions are helpful in pointing me to my what. It is good to be still and see how God is working. Thank you!