Have you every wondered what you are doing with your life that matters? Most of us at some point in our lives ask that question and it may nag at us for years on end. It might be that you are wrestling with that question in your life this very moment. If you are unsure of what your calling in your life is, then read on. I want to help you understand how to make a difference with your life by seeking out the Creator of everything and searching his Word for your way in life.

When most people think about the term “calling”, they get mystical thoughts of a voice speaking to them and telling them what to do. I will be the first to say that kind of event has happened in the past when we read the pages of the Old and New Testaments. Men like Moses and the apostle Paul definitely had one of those “aha” moments when God spoke very clearly about the calling for their lives. That type of calling has long ceased to exist, but having a calling is still very much present in the human spirit and soul today. I have never experienced the Moses of Paul type of calling and would have probably croaked over if I had, but I have had the experience of God’s calling in my life. His calling is an invitation; it is knowing his way for your life. It is personal.

I believe that every person traversing the globe has a purpose for their lives, but unfortunately it is evident that many never realize that purpose. I will go even farther on a limb to say that I believe that everyone has a calling, whether it’s a career or a vocational calling. Before we venture any further, let’s take a moment to define what a calling is. Timothy Butler, a professor at Harvard says about a calling, “It’s what you’re doing in your life that makes a difference for you, that builds meaning for you, that you can look back on in your later years to see the impact you’ve made on the world. A calling is something you have to listen for. You don’t hear it once and then immediately recognize it. You’ve got to attune yourself to the message.”

Butler in his definition is talking strictly in the sense of a career, not in the spiritual sense regarding God’s call on your life. His definition is very well thought out and practical for secular thought and use. I believe that your calling begins before you start making a difference with your life; it begins when there is an invitation. An invitation is given to be involved, employed, or at the least, to participate. The good majority of us are not looking for a calling, but for a career. We are looking for that which meets our physical and emotional needs. That is not God’s intention when he invites you to be involved in his work.

This invitation is the one area that we often misread or misinterpret. We are looking for open doors that are clearly a “sign” from God that now is the time to act. Regrettably, we sometimes react because a supposed door has been opened and we take it as the sign we have been waiting for. The Bible is clear that God does in fact invite normal people like you and I to be involved with him. When we open our eyes, we will be amazed at the many doors that are open before us to participate in career building and kingdom building. Just because a door is open doesn’t necessarily mean that open door is a calling.

Henry Blackaby, in his book, The Power of the Call, says, “In recent years I have watched many people diminish the sacredness of God’s call to be a shepherd to His people. We heard people say, ‘Everyone is called.’ But in the scriptures, God specifically calls some to shepherd His people. The call and enabling are special.” Blackaby is specifically speaking in regards to the calling of a man to be a pastor, as that is the focus of his book. The calling that all believers have is a kingdom call, according to (Phil. 3:14), “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Even though Blackaby is correct in stating that there is a special, specific calling on a man’s life to be a pastor, we must understand that scripture clearly teaches that God is inviting all believers to participate in his work.

What’s your calling?