Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Sep 7th, 2010 Guest Post By Meredith King

God’s Calling

Chances are you, like millions of other teenagers, are wondering what to do with your life. Without a specific goal in mind you will wander aimlessly, not accomplishing anything with your life. This can be discouraging, especially if you’re among the number who don’t know what they want to do with their lives. The number one major of choice as a freshman in college is “undecided.” So you aren’t alone if you don’t know what to do with your life. As Christians we know we are supposed to do the will of God, but sometimes it feels like He just won’t reveal it to you.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

—Jeremiah 29:11

He does have a plan for your life. The Bible tells us we were predestined to be the children of God – called according to His purpose. So we ask ourselves, “What is my calling?”

Before Jesus ascended into heaven He told His disciples:

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”—Matthew 28:18-20

Our ultimate calling is to make disciples. Our purpose is to honor and glorify God because of our love for Him. We can do that in any time and in any place. Take what you have been given today and use it for good. Sometimes we get so caught up with the future that we forget we were created “for such a time as this.” You may not know where you’re supposed to be in five, ten or fifteen years. But are you where you’re supposed to be today? Prepare for your future in any way possible, but don’t forget that here and now, you can do God’s will.

Ask Him for answers – He wants you to know His plans for you. Continually search for where God wants you to be today, and tomorrow will take care of itself. (“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”—Matthew 6:33-34.) But when today’s troubles begin to overwhelm you, do not be discouraged. God is using your suffering to shape you for something bigger He has in mind.

Suffer with purpose, for it has cost you dearly, as Mark Driscoll said in one of his sermons. Your suffering will allow you to minister and teach, to go and to preach. Every experience you face, face it with Christ, so that He will be able to use and redeem everything in your life for His purpose. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).