In2theRiver

Good morning from Westminster, MD!

Recently, I was given the opportunity to share on the topic of “calling” with a group from my church. Specifically, I was asked to talk about John the Baptist and the calling he had on his life. One of my favorite parts about being asked to share on a topic is it makes dig into it and consider how it applies to my life. The concept of “calling” is an interesting one as it is something I have experienced to some degree.

However, before going down that road, what exactly is a “calling”? Well, in its most basic form, according to Merriam-Webster, it is, “a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action.” When it is applied in the spiritual context, which is where it might be most commonly found, it adds that it is, “often viewed as coming from a higher purpose or God–to serve or fulfill a specific role.” This would be be applicable to John the Baptist, which I won’t get into today but is worth exploring.

As I mentioned earlier, I also had what I would consider a calling, although certainly not as dramatic or world changing as John the Baptist. I talk about this story more extensively in my book Hope Realized, but it happened while visiting Nicaragua in January of 2011. I had traveled to Nicaragua with a group of people from my church and stayed a couple of extra days. While on a hike on the outskirts of the community of El Canon, while standing on a hill, I “heard” an inaudible voice whisper, “Where are you going?” It was the closest thing I have ever experienced to hearing the voice of God and turned my world upside down. After going through a discernment process, I was clear that God was calling me to move to Nicaragua, which I did for 3 years.

So, is that what a “calling” always looks like? Is it always something life-changing, requiring the person being called to blow up life as they know it? The answer to that question is most definitely not. A calling from God can look that way, and we shouldn’t ignore that possibility, but often it is far more subtle even if not any less life changing.

I like to frame it this way. Imagine you are on the bank of a river. Now, this is not a calm, serene river but a river at flood stage. It looks dangerous and imposing. When you look up from the river to the far shore, something catches your eye. It is not completely clear but whatever it is connects with something deep inside of you. You have not experienced it before, but you have sense that you were made for it. You would like to find out more, but there is a problem: that river stands in your way. Something inside you says reaching the other side of the river would be life-changing but you are not sure the risk of the crossing is worth it.

It is easy to find ourselves in this position, especially as Followers of Jesus. The other side of the river is God’s best for us. In a sense, it is what God is calling us to pursue. The problem is we are really good at convincing ourselves that the journey across the river to get there is either too risky or not worth it. This leaves us living in a place in which we were supposed to be camping. We make camping in comfort our life and never take the step into the river to move toward God’s best. This is the crossroads of God’s calling.

In my experience, it is in the pursuit of God’s best for our life that we discover God’s calling. In fact, I would say it is pursuing God’s best that ultimately is our calling. Don’t assume this means pursuing prosperity or some other definition society would use to describe the “best life”. Instead, it means following God’s lead for your life wherever it might take you. This could be a relatively minor tweak to life, or it could be something life-altering. The point is a change in pursuit and definition of success.

For me, following God’s calling on my life started with attending a group for guys called Ironmen. I didn’t need another “Bible study” but something inside of me told me this opportunity different and a step toward God’s best for my life. I wouldn’t have used those words at the time but looking back it is clear that I was stepping into God’s calling in my life.

How about you? What would it look like to step into the calling to pursue God’s best in your life? Maybe it is taking a step to be a better spouse or parent. Maybe it is deciding to make a difference by serving someone. Maybe it is coming to the realization that you were created you on purpose and for a purpose by a God who love you and sent Jesus to prove it.

Stepping into God’s calling for your life doesn’t have to be complicated but it will be life changing. God is calling you to his best for your life. Will you choose to say “yes”?

James Belt