Written by a Cafe 1040 Grad
A recent class about calling has turned my thinking about missions and discerning God’s will for me upside down. The principle of the class is that "calling is content, not context" meaning that we are all called to do the same thing...just not in the same place. The commands in the Bible (content) are clear about what we are called to do, including making disciples of all nations, but our specific roles and the places we go (context) are not commanded. If, for instance, we were "called" to a certain place, what would happen if we were kicked out of that country? Our calling does not have to change or become lost if our context changes.
It’s been a joy to come to understand what my purpose and calling are, but I am still unclear about its context, which I think is the Father teaching me patience. I am notorious for wanting to get ahead of myself and know exactly what God wants me to do in the future. Since learning that the Father’s heart for the Nations is a major theme throughout the Bible, I’m beginning to understand that I should not need a voice from the sky or a stirring emotion that drives me to tears to know what the Father's will for me is. Since his instructions are so clear, this should be enough for me to go. But I also struggle with wanting more clarity on where he wants me to be. My semester helped me see what the Father has called us all to, that he is asking us to be faithful where he has placed us, and the blessings that follow when we obey.
