How do you know what your calling is?

[Teenager]

Well, so I'm almost 19, and I'm struggling with trying to find out what God wants me to do for the rest of my life. I haven't decided on a college yet, and I certainly don't know what I want to do for a career.

I think I have a general idea of the direction God is leading me, but how can I be sure? And what if it's goes against my parents wishes? I'm not saying it does, but I'm merely asking "what if."

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

Crossroads are difficult for a reason. I think too many take the path of least resistance or the one providing the most attractive path, when in reality they are meant for you to stop and take the time to make a wise decision as to which way you should go.

I don't know how my opinion will fare as opposed to others, but it comes from my heart, personal experience, and my faith. One thing that has weighed heavily on me is the experiences of those I love and how they impacted their lives. My father LOVED trains, but he allowed outside forces (my mom, his mom, peer pressure, etc.) push him on to a career path where he was miserable and only mildly successful. My husband's family pushed and pushed and pushed him to get a "government job" and never helped instill in him any mechanism for personal drive and amibition, and so he too has been miserable at the same "government job" for over 25 years, afraid to leave for the security of his family. I myself allowed pressure and the almighty dollar to pull me off the track of my first love, art, but not for much longer as I have made the decision to go back to school as soon as my daughter is dual enrolled in college.

My suggestion for you, Teenager, is deep prayer, introspection, meditation, and research. I would strongly encourage you to seek that which you love to do, that part of you in which a particular spiritual gift, skill or talent lies, and develop it in some manner (whether it be college, technical training, apprenticeships, etc.) Happy people ARE successful, and success is not, and should not (imho) be measured purely by a financial yardstick. If you are doing what you love, doing it as unto the Lord, and giving all yourself to it, the Lord WILL bless -- has blessed, for it is from Him all gifts come.

If you invest yourself in this search, and find no immediate answers, I would go slowly on a path toward personal growth (such as a community college, or certificate program). But I would encourage you not to stop moving forward, just know you don't have to go at a breakneck speed, you will get there, better to get there safe, in one piece, and at the final destination you can live with.

[Rhino]

How do you know what your calling is?The phone rings.

Just kidding
Well, so I'm almost 19, and I'm struggling with trying to find out what God wants me to do for the rest of my life. I haven't decided on a college yet, and I certainly don't know what I want to do for a career.You don't have to decide now. I've seen so many people make bad choices because they thought they had to decide by a certain time. And even worse still, I can't count the number of people I've seen in careers that they hate, and mistakenly believe that they can't change it once they've started it. It's sad, really. I myself didn't decide what I wanted to do when I grew up until I was in my forties. And I may still change careers if I feel like it. When you find it, you'll know. But never, ever, make the mistake of thinking you're locked into a career path permanently, especially if you decide you don't like that path.

I think I have a general idea of the direction God is leading me, but how can I be sure? And what if it's goes against my parents wishes? I'm not saying it does, but I'm merely asking "what if."Nobody likes to disappoint their parents (well, maybe some), but when it comes down to it, it's your life. Your parents may not realize it now, but even they will be saddened down the road if you get locked into a path you don't want. When you decide, just tell your parents that it's much more important that you enjoy what you do, than what you do. That's called fulfillment.

[Wolfcounsel]

I'd say relax. When your calling comes, it will smack you upside the head, and it will become almost like an obsession, but it probably will not override the other things in your life. If that happens, then consider it a bad thing.

The Wolf's Counsel #456,873,932.

[Rhino]

The Wolf's Counsel #456,873,932.Wow! And that much counsel with only 8,421 posts! Damn, you're good!

:thumb:

[Teenager]

Ok, so I could've graduated HS last year, but decided to wait one year. Right now I'm taking college courses, but I am still technically in HS.



Lately, I've been feeling this.... "strangeness" inside of me concerning the ministry. One side of me is saying that I should go into the ministry. The other side says no. Both sides present good cases as to why I should or should not go into the ministry.



The thing is, I really like studying the word of God. The other thing is, going into the ministry involves a WHOLE LOT OF FREAKING RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY....




*sigh*



Edit: The reason why I didn't go to college last year is because I didn't want to rush things. I also have been praying about this issue for the last 2 to 3 years. :(

[Wolfcounsel]

"Wow! And that much counsel with only 8,421 posts! Damn, you're good!" --Rhino


A lot of the counsel involved my kids and grandkids, not to mention my nephews and nieces, and a lot of it involved force-feeding it to them one way or another. One of my nephews in the Philippines calls me the Guardian Devil.:grin:

[BEST45CAL]

You're already on the right track.

Finish college.

Then, you could be a military chaplain...army, navy, air force, but not marines. They don't have pastors or doctors.

Whatever you decide, just make sure it's fun and it pays the bills.

[Beowulf]

Well, Teen, you will know when your calling shows up. Thing is, you may not realize it until later when you've been doing something, say, for a living for many years.
Growing up, I had 38 model airplanes hanging from the ceiling of my bedroom, all of them WW2 models and I could tell you the specs of each. I never really thought about it until I received my Airframe and Powerplant ratings from the FAA to fix aircraft for a living and had spent then 13 years in the military.

[DoctorDoom]

You don't have to decide now. I've seen so many people make bad choices because they thought they had to decide by a certain time.Sage counsel. I'm 63 and I still haven't decided.

If in fact you have a calling to the ministry, you will be unfulfilled doing anything else. God will guide you if you give Him free rein in your life, and trust Him to reveal His will to you.

One side of me is saying that I should go into the ministry. The other side says no.If you are truly called to do God's work, the ambiguity and indecision will occur, and you'll know that the arguments against it will be from the father of lies. If you choose to follow the will of the Father, you'll experience trials and hardships and setbacks and doubt. There will be times when you're ready to give it up. And the closer you are to God's plan for your life, the more these things will intensify. Old Scratch and his lot never sleep.

Remember this: you won't be the first one to undergo tribulations.

2 Cor 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

Be prepared. Serving God in the ministry is not going to be easy. However, God never promised you a rose garden. Quote the contrary, in fact.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Matt 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

You won't get through on your own. That's a given. However, as the saying goes, "God and I are a majority."

2 Cor 12:9 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.
10 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.

And the reward?

1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

We are all on individual journeys in this life. The difference is how we travel.

There are those who look at where they are, taking step by difficult step, and moan about how hard it is to continue. They will fail.

There are those who keep their eyes fixed on their destination and consider only that each step, no matter how taxing and wearisome, brings them that much closer to home. They will succeed.

Don't rush into anything. The majority of your life is ahead of you. Follow your dreams, but allow God to walk with you and guide you. And if you are truly chosen for ministry, you'll be satisfied with nothing else.

God bless!