And without faith it is impossible to please God… Hebrews 11:6
We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7
For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. 2 Chronicles 20:12
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 1 Corinthians 1:27
God calls people to seemingly impossible tasks. It gives Him glory when I can’t do something, but He can. I can do “all things through Christ who strengthen me“, but often what He calls me to do can seem foolish to attempt (at least to others — and sometimes me) at the time. Imagine what the friends of Abraham, Moses, and Noah must have thought when God called them to what appeared to be impossible assignments. God calls people to walk by faith into the unknown.
If you know God has called you to something don’t be dismayed if others can’t quickly identify with your calling. In my experience, God is often raising up others with the same heartbeat, but you can’t always see them at the time, so there may be periods when you have to stand alone on God’s calling. That may be for a season, but at times it could be for years. (Consider the case of Noah.)
With that in mind, what are some indicators what you are experiencing might just be of God.
Here are 7 ways to tell it may be a God thing:
- Everyone says it can’t be done. There’s no way. It’s never been done before.
- You feel you aren’t qualified. You don’t have what it takes. You’re scared. Overwhelmed. Under-prepared.
- There aren’t enough resources available. Not enough money. Not enough people. (or so it seems) You don’t have the building, or the location or the perfectly mapped-out strategy.
- It makes no rational sense. Seriously, who in their right mind would do this?
- People are questioning your intelligence. Or asking if you are “sure you know what you are doing”.
- Accomplishing it would give God all the glory. There would be no other explanation.
- It honors God and is true to His Word.
I’m not saying this post confirms what you are attempting is from God. It might. It might not.
What I am saying is that you should not dismiss the call you believe God has placed on your life because it doesn’t make sense to others around you — or to yourself at times. God things seldom do. Read a few Bible stories if you need some inspiration — or confirmation of what I’m saying.
Are you in the midst of a God-calling?
Has God called you to things which made no sense at the time?
What would you add to my list?
I’m in the middle of a God calling. A year and a half ago God called me to leave my corporate job to run a pregnancy resource center. God began talking to me very specially about my new job before anyone even knew the job was going to be opening up. Several well meaning Christians told me God wouldn’t call me to a place which required me to take a 50% cut in pay, one friend even told me I was being selfish. I told God if this is where He wanted me I would go but I had a long list of BIG details He would need to work out. God clicked off my list like it was no big deal but it was a big deal. The list included things like healing my marriage & providing a job for my husband. The day after I except the job my husband was offered a job–no application, no interview, just show up for work next week. The week after I started my job, my husband & youngest daughter were baptized together. Five months later, we received a letter from our bank saying they were lowering our mortgage by $520 a month–no fees, no papers to sign, no forms to fill out. Currently we make less money together than I made alone at my corporate job but we have more disposable income than we have ever had and we give away substantially more money than we’ve ever given before. God’s way seems crazy most of the time but doing things His way is SO worth it!!
Love it!
I have never dreamt in my life that I will part of humanitarian industry which is tryin to make this world a better place to live by. I was dreaming of corporate life, career, and position. Today, I feel that I have a gretaer purpose in this life to fulfill with.
That's awesome.
An added thought: The Bible says, "You shall know them by their fruit." (Matthew 7:16). It always helps me to think, "outcome." What will come from what I'm about to do? We don't always know the answer, but often we can pinpoint motive & by motive we can usually tell what kind of fruit will grow from it. Thanks for the blog. Enjoyed it!
Yes, I look close at the fruit as I pursue what seems to be a God calling. That's what fuels my faith and resolve.
Your list is right on the money. At least, every time God's done something those seven things have been in line with it.
I would say that although most people will be opposed, God will always confirm His calling – which He sometimes does through words of affirmation from someone. I always tell people who are considering an attempt at the "impossible" to look for confirmation of God's calling before moving ahead.
I feel that I'm in the middle of a God calling too…. I suppose I'd be worried if I wasn't!
Yay God!
Yes! God called me to teach an elementary Sunday School class at my church and I was terrified. My sons needed a class to go to and there was no class and I didn't want them to fall through the cracks so I said I'd teach. I was so scared. There were few resources, there was no curriculum, I had very little experience teaching elementary age children, etc. But God opened doors and gave our church everything we needed to get the class established for the kids. God even gave me a wonderful mentor from the preschool department who is a now a great friend!
I think I am in the middle of a God-calling. On the surface I should leave something in life alone. I should sit back and relax and let a very long term, comfortable situation unfold over the next couple of years. But I don't think that is what God has in store for me.
I am not sure what God has in store for me exactly, but I do believe that we need to be proactive about seeking out God's face in situations.