Living Your Calling: Guest Post by Gina Butz

Kindling is about starting fires in hearts and minds—challenging my readers to listen for God’s voice and go where He says to go. Today Gina Butz has some great words for us on discerning and following God’s callings for our lives.

I wish I had a dollar for every time someone has said to me, “

Oh I could never . . .” fill in the blank, usually with “live overseas” or “be in full-time ministry” or “homeschool my kids” or some other lifestyle choice we’ve made.

It’s hard to know how to respond to statements like that. I used to think, “Sure you could!” But lately I’ve been thinking, “You know what? You could, but you’re not supposed to do this. And that’s okay.”

See, I can do what I do only because this is what I’m called to do. And God gives us what we need for what we are called to do. I didn’t decide to move overseas or be in full-time ministry or homeschool my kids because I thought I’d be awesome at these things and they seemed manageable and fun. No, I had great reservations about all of them. But it was obvious to me when I chose to enter each of those situations that it was what God wanted for me. It was His calling for my life.

As Christian women, we often espouse the view that, to truly follow God, we must all live a certain way. It’s easy to feel pressure to conform to the choices we see others around us making. We judge others when they don’t make the same choices we do. We question others, we doubt ourselves.

All of that negates calling. Recently, a friend of mine was sharing about her decision to have a larger family. She receives more than her share of, “Oh I could never . . .” statements with regard to the number of children she has. But the truth she keeps going back to is that she knows that it is how she and her husband were led. It is their calling.

Calling combats comparison. When we are sure that the choices we make are what God has for us personally, then we silence the voices that say, “But other people are doing this” or “I should live like her.”

In Psalm 16:5-6 it reads, “Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup. You have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places. Surely I have a delightful inheritance.” God assigns us our calling. Confidence in our calling brings security. It provides boundaries that say, “This is for you, and that is not. And that is good.”

What is your calling today? Who is He calling you to be? What is He calling you to do? Jeremiah 6:16 states, “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths. Ask where the good way is and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” Ask Him to show you what He has for you, listen for His calling and walk in it.

What about you? What has God been calling you to?

Gina and her husband, Erik, have served with Cru for more than 15 years, 13 of which were spent overseas. They recently returned to the U.S. with their two kids, and serve now with Global Leadership. Gina enjoys writing, speaking, and coaching other women, particularly in issues surrounding transition and living wholeheartedly. You will love her blog, The View from Here. Friend her on Facebook.