Calling.
What is it? How do you know if you’re called or not called to something? How would you describe it?
In my experience, it’s a lot like being in love. It’s difficult to describe love to someone who’s never been. It’s a feeling, but it’s more than that. It’s more like oxygen. It surrounds you and fills you and gives you life. If you ever have to wonder about whether you’re in love or not – you’re not. Because when you’re in love, you just know, even if you can’t describe it.
That’s how it is with calling. It may not look like the best thing on paper. It may not seem like the most logical choice. It may not be the sexiest, the sleekest, the biggest or the best. It may not make sense to your friends, family or colleagues, or even you. But still you know. You may not be able to explain it or describe it. You may not discern when you’re not called to something, but you know for sure when you are. And that’s all that matters.
Recently, I found myself blessed with a myriad of good ministry opportunities. They were all uniquely similar in that they were all church plants at various stages of development (all under 4 yrs old), but they were quite different as to where they were located and who they were trying to reach.
Each of them seemed to be a good fit for my education, experiences and gifts, but some were sexier, sleeker, bigger and “better” than others. So my wife and I made our list of which opportunities we preferred and in which order.
I heard someone say recently, “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.”
I think we probably had God in stitches.
I kept telling God, “No, no, no.”
And God kept saying, “Oh, YES, YES, YES.”
I can’t really describe it. I can’t readily explain it. I just knew. Despite my greatest resistance, I knew.
I knew God was calling us to our least-preferred option.
And it wasn’t that God was closing the other doors. He was saying, “Here are the doors. They’re all open. You have to make the choice. Now choose wisely.” And so I knew what I had to do.
When in doubt, trust Jesus.
And so in July I will join with a gifted, committed, passionate core of believers in Thief River Falls, MN to become the first lead pastor/church planter of Epiphany Station.
And I couldn’t be more happy. It’s good to be where God calls you to be.
I can’t explain it. I just know.
A single day in your courts
is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
(Psalm 84:10, NLT)
I am so excited for this.