A Calling or Cop Out #398

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A Calling or Cop Out #398

Many people will tell you that every day you wake up with a choice. It starts your day. Either work out or stay in bed. Either doom scroll or read your Bible. Either get outside or stay in. Whatever it is, your entire day will be filled with choices. For the believer asking God “What’s next,” please understand that your choice may be between your calling and your cop-out.

I’ve been asking myself this question for a while now. What’s next, or what’s my calling? But maybe my approach has been wrong. Am I asking God to follow me, or am I truly wanting to follow Him? Am I trying to fit my calling into what I know, what I’m used to, or what provides very little risk?

Maybe I haven’t been asking God, “What’s Next?” Maybe I’ve been asking Him to choose from the options I desire and am comfortable with. It’s time to be honest: what have you been asking Him?

For example, my heart says I will follow God wherever, but my job search is limited to certain fields because I have experience and feel qualified. So my question for you and myself is: what happens if we cop out or follow God’s calling?

God called Abram to leave what was familiar and go. Abram could have said, “I think I’ll just stay put. I am 75 years old. I’m good.” He didn’t; he just trusted God and went.

Moses didn’t know that while growing up in Pharaoh's household, he would eventually find himself in the desert tending sheep for forty years. While in Midian, Moses provided for his family by tending Jethro’s flocks. When God got his attention with a burning bush, he could have said, “Well, I’ve got my sheep and my family that I have to worry about, so not now.” Moses tried excuses like, “Who am I? They will not believe me. I’m slow of speech. And please send someone else.” But God didn’t try to convince Moses that he was qualified. He said, “I’ll be with you” (Exodus 3:12), and that was enough.

Can you imagine how the world would be different if Abraham and Moses had stayed in their comfort zone? Now imagine that for yourself and what could be different if you go.

I want to be clear: it's okay to stay. Sometimes staying is exactly where God calls us to be. God could be using where you’ve been and what you’ve gone through to prepare you for what He has planned for you. God used Moses' years in Egypt and his years in the fields. So the question isn’t whether staying or going is more courageous. It’s whether God is leading the decision or fear is.

I don’t pretend to know your calling, and truth be told, I’m still trying to understand mine. I do know that I don't want fear or comfort to drown out God's answer. Can I ask you, is there something you’ve been ignoring? If so, I encourage you to stop waiting for all the answers or for when you feel most qualified to pursue that feeling in your heart that won’t go away.

Take one step today without knowing the destination, trusting that God will be with you too. And who knows? Your legacy may be on the 10th step or the 1,000th, but you’ll never know if you don’t take the first.

Your calling may begin beyond what’s comfortable. Take One Step Today and start living your legacy. Visit lighthouselegacies.com and join me on the Living Your Legacy Podcast.