When You Don’t Want To Answer God’s Call

Christians, we might have a problem that we are actively ignoring. We attend church, sing hymns, pray, read the Bible, but we also draw a line in the sand when God calls us to something unpreferred. Christians say they want Jesus to be their Lord and Savior, but do they really just mean Savior? Allowing Him to be Lord means accepting His leading in our lives, even when He leads us into discomfort. Why do so many of us hesitate to do what we know the Lord wants us to do? Hard Truth: We don’t actually want to answer God’s call.

Discerning God’s Call

The first reaction most Christians have when they think God might be calling them to something is to question the validity of the call. Let’s be honest with ourselves and admit that sometimes God’s call turns out to be our wishful thinking or scheming. Personally, I’m still waiting on His call for me to make a living eating potato chips…

In all seriousness, though, it’s important to figure out if what we think is God’s call is, in fact, from God. This is where discernment comes in. I wish this were not the case because there are far too many Christians with about zero percent discernment making big decisions because they believe they should trust their feelings. “I feel like God is saying” is never a good sentence. Feelings will lie. We need to use something more certain and concrete to discern God’s call.

God’s Call Through God’s Word

God’s desires for your life aren’t a deeply hidden secret one can only access with the correct incantation, patchouli incense, and chakra aligning crystals. No. He wants us to know these things, and He gave us a fairly easy way to find out. It’s, like, a book Christians carry around with them to church. And if we open that book, He makes Himself plainly known. I’m talking about the Bible, by the way. You knew that, right?

Read the Bible, and you’ll learn what God expects from us. Importantly, you will be able to assess your “call” and compare it to Scripture. For instance, let’s say a pastor is approached with an opportunity to perform a wedding ceremony for a same-sex couple. He has been witnessing to the couple and built a friendly relationship with them. He’s left wondering if God is calling him to participate in this wedding as an outreach opportunity. A little time in the Word would make it clear that homosexuality is a sin, and although Jesus drew sinners close to Himself, He did not condone or participate in their sin. Rather, He told them turn away from their sin. So, no, God would not be calling that pastor to marry the homosexual couple.

Is The Bible Really Going To Point Us In The Right Direction?

Thanks to the Bible, we can easily discover God’s call for us in many cases. Below are a few verses reminding us of God’s desire to give us wisdom, to make His ways known to us, and to lead us. If we know Him and His character, then we will more easily discern His call on our life.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

James 1:5 (ESV)

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

Psalm 119:05

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

Philippians 2:13

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

2 Timothy 3:16

Don’t Forget To Pray

Pray. You can always pray for guidance to make His callings in your life clear. You can ask Him for wisdom, and He won’t withhold it.

Remember, believer, you are indwelled with the Holy Spirit. Why’s that important? He is with us at all times and will help us discern right and wrong in small things and big things alike.

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

John 16:13

One Little Problem…

Sadly, not all decisions we make are simple or small (in the grand scheme of things). Discerning a call to participate in something might be a quick and easy decision. What about the significant life choices that we all usually think about when we think about “God’s call?”

Is He calling you to leave ministry? Enter ministry? Is God urging you to move far away from everything and everyone you’ve ever known? Has he called you to singleness? Is it really God’s call for you to begin making yourself vulnerable by sharing your testimony as a means to encourage and witness?

The list goes on and on.

Thinking God’s Call Isn’t For You

Have you ever met someone who ministers in a way that you “know” you never could? I definitely have. These individuals are often told by others how amazing it is that they do what they do because “I could never.” They assume that person sought out the ministry and was naturally gifted in that area. However, those same people will often tell you they never wanted that ministry. They might even tell you how they currently struggle with it. At some point they felt God’s call but believed it wasn’t for them. They could never.

Maybe God is asking you to do something that seems impossible. Or frankly, you simply don’t want to do it. I get that, but none of that matters. Sorry. God makes us able when we are not, if that’s His will for us. He will equip us to do His work, and He will also receive the glory because we aren’t the obvious choice for the task at hand.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

God using those who seem unable, weak, or ill-equipped also shows the world how God’s ways are different and better. God’s call on your life might feel too big for you, but He is using you with a purpose. And not to sound too much like a children’s song, but you’re able to do what He wills because He is able.

“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”

1 Corinthians 1:25-27

God’s Call Requires Obedience

OK. God has called you to something difficult and that you absolutely do not desire. You have come to accept that God truly is at work in this situation, and you know that it’s something you could do, though you’d need to really rely on God through it. But…you don’t want to. Sure, God’s call is clear, but all you want to say in response is, “Thanks but no thanks.”

I’ve been there. I get it. Your preference doesn’t matter, though. God requires obedience from His children. We are to die to self and should be a new creature in Christ.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

Listen. There is nothing wrong with not wanting a task God has given you. Jesus asked the Father to remove the sacrifice He would have to give. Jesus knew what He was about to face, and He preferred not to go through it if there were any other way. On the other hand, He also willingly accepted the task the Father had given Him.

“And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”

Luke 22:41-42

Take a page from Jesus Christ on this. So, go ahead and ask for God to have another way if you must. You don’t have to immediately want what He wants for you. On the other hand, you need to want His will to be done. Pray and ask for what you want while also being willing to obey God.

When we pray, ultimately, we should be praying to agree with God.

God’s Call Requires Trust

When God calls us to hard things, big changes, and serving in uncomfortable ministries, we can be overwhelmed with fear. We get a case of the “what ifs.”

What if I fail?

What if we can’t afford…(fill in the blank)?

Or what if I’m doing the wrong thing?

Trust, y’all. We need to trust Him in everything. When God calls on you, He will provide what you need. Did you catch that? Need. Your wants and preferences are not essentials, and you may need to give those up. In the case of fear, choose to surrender to God and let Him care for you and direct your path.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

1 Peter 5:6-7

God’s Call For My Family

God has called upon my husband and I for various things throughout our Christian lives. Some things were easy to obey (i.e., homeschool, quit drinking alcohol) while others have been more difficult.

Almost five years ago our family was at a breaking point. My husband serving as a bi-vocational pastor while teaching full time was too much. He was seriously considering leaving vocational ministry and focusing completely on secular work. However, we both believed God was calling my husband to full-time ministry.

Through a series of events that could only be orchestrated by God, we were looking at leaving Illinois (where all our family lives) and moving to middle-of-nowhere rural, northern Wisconsin. We’d be moving away from everything and everyone we knew. Not to mention, my husband would be leaving the retirement system for teachers. Suddenly, we would be in the deep end of ministry with no safety net. Fear crept in.

But we knew God was moving the pieces into place for us to make this huge life change, and we understood that we would need to rely on Him completely. How? When? Where? We didn’t know the answers, but we knew God had chosen our church family. We stepped forward in faith and obedience, and God has blessed us beyond my wildest dreams.

We’re not rich. The congregation isn’t perfect…who is? We’ve made missteps and missed opportunities. Some days are hard. Oh, but I’m so glad we took that leap of faith and trusted God. He knew so much better than we did about what we needed. He’s provided much more than food and shelter. He has given us a church family, community, access to some of the most beautiful areas in the country, and much needed fellowship. God is so good! Without trust, though, we would never have been able to make this move.

Final Thought

We make plans and dream about our future. The roadmap of life is carefully drawn in our early adulthood, and we don’t appreciate anyone messing with it. Sometimes we decide how we’re going to serve the Lord without seeking His will for us, and we try to ignore God’s call when it doesn’t match our plans. You guys, that’s a miserable way to live.

God doesn’t promise an easy road, but He does promise to draw close to us when we draw close to Him. Draw closer by obeying Him…even when God’s call challenges you and requires you give up your plans. His are better. No, that’s not quite right. His plans are best.

Has God ever called you to something you didn’t want? What happened?

Image courtesy of Pawel Czerwinski via Unsplash.