20 Questions to Uncover Your Calling

Korean War Memorial

Heroic, bigger-than-life people change the world. People that seem to know exactly what calling God placed on their lives from youth. Faces full of intensity, drive, and passion. Wouldn’t it be nice to be like that?

But what if it isn’t so easy to uncover your calling? How do you determine what you’re supposed to be doing? Or are you supposed to be just another face in the crowd? God has called you to a specific mission and once you uncover your calling, your sense of fulfillment will be incredible and undeniable. So how in the world do you get to that place where your spirit clicks and you know that you know that you know…

Korean War Memorial
Heroic Faces Montage/Korean War Memorial

God infused each of us with a deeper emotional tug. Something that hits our hot buttons. The Holy Spirit tugs on our hearts through those emotions to direct us into our life path based on our life experience, talent, and spiritual gifting. But how does that work?

Consider these questions:

1. What makes me cry?

2. What makes me grin so much I can’t quit grinning and I tell people about it?

3. What makes me angry?

4. What fascinates me?

5. What injustice or repetitive situation irritates me when I see it in the news or my community?

6. If I could fix something in the world, what would it be?

7. What never ceases to shock me?

8. What never ceases to amaze me?

9. If I had a million dollars, what cause would I donate my tithe (10%, $100,000) to make a difference?

10. What are my strengths?

11. Where do I tend to volunteer?

12. What do people seem to always compliment me about, but it seems super simple to me?

13. What do I get asked to do because I’m good at it?

14. Do I tend to work more with children, adults, disabled, finances, creative fields, physical tasks?

15. Do people come to me for help in specific areas? (Examples: Advice, fixing things, financial help, mentoring…)

16. If I look back over the last year, where do I spend most of my time and energy? (Am I satisfied with the answer or does that seem like a waste of time?)

17. What do I consider my biggest accomplishment? (Not what other people think, what I think.)

18. What unique experiences in my past are useful to help others now?

19. What is my favorite (non-financial) life experience when I felt the most fulfilled?

20. Are my priorities in line with my dreams and goals?

 

Some of these questions you might be able to answer right away. Others might take some thought. Watch for opportunities for daily situations to uncover the answers. The goal is to begin finding the common and related themes. How do these begin to fill in the holes in your puzzle? What answers keep repeating themselves?

Now ask: What is stopping me?

Often we have the ability, but haven’t taken the time to get educated or skilled in the talent God’s given. If it’s education, consider how you might resolve that issue. If it’s priorities, consider how you might reorganize in order to put a higher priority on God’s calling. Sometimes it’s as simple as eliminating distractions.

Distractions come in many forms. Being too busy with a long to-do list isn’t a valid reason for missing out on your calling. The addiction of “too busy” is a common excuse for us as Americans. I know. I’ve battled that addiction and come to realize it’s a very shallow and unsatisfying way of living. It’s also a very poor excuse on the day we’ll stand in front of God. “Um, why didn’t I do what you made me to do? Um, sorry God, I was a bit too busy. You understand, Big Guy, right?” Somehow I don’t see God smiling at that one. If that scenario feels a little too possible…

It’s time to ask: What distraction can I eliminate?

How committed am I to everything on my to-do list?

Why am I committed to some of these things?

Am I really the only person able to do each of these?

Are all on this list really in my giftings or am I just doing them?

If I say no, am I replaceable? (If I’m replaceable, why do I feel I’m the only one who can do it?)

Whose blessing am I stealing because I refuse to delegate or release the item?

Am I trying to prove something? (To myself, someone else, God?)

Who am I trying to impress? (Ack, run!)

Have I asked God to reveal His calling on my life?

One last thought. If you don’t know what your gifting and strengths are then it might be time to put a concentrated effort into self and spiritual discovery. Spiritual gifting tests, personality tests, and top five strength testing (like Strength Finder 2.0) can really help you begin to define unique talents, abilities, and specific traits. Find out who God made you to be and live in that purpose. Are you just another face in the crowd? No. God’s calling is specific. He knows your face and is waiting to rejoice as your spirit clicks with His.

There’s no higher calling or more satisfaction than to intentionally uncover God’s calling for your life and live in it. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to be completely available to be who God made you to be. And then because you lived, you will change the world!

 

 

Angela Breidenbach

Angie Breidenbach loves speaking for women's retreats, conferences, and events. Angela also coaches courageous confidence, personal growth, media and interview skills, writing, and powerful living. She’s certified in mentor/peer counseling as a Stephen Minister and CTA life coach. Angela serves as an assisting minister for her congregation in Missoula, MT. She's written Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life from Journey Press, a Sheaf House imprint. Other works by Angela include Creative Cooking for Simple Elegance (Oct 2010), Creative Cooking for Colitis (March 2011, Kindle) compilation books and devotionals from Guidepost, Group, and articles in magazines, ezines, and newspapers. Her newest book, A Healing Heart, is due out from Abingdon Press (http://www.quiltsoflovebooks.com) April 2013. http://www.AngelaBreidenbach.com

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4 comments

  1. I go back through this list myself sometimes to check on my direction. It’s so easy to get caught up and distracted. Writing this article made me reevaluate where I am today.
    Angie Breidenbach

  2. Angie, I loved this post! Just for fun, I’m going to take some time to explore these questions. God’s moving me again, so what good things to consider in the meantime.

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