God in his infinite love and mercy as a creator of all has revealed how uniquely we were thought of and detailed we are. He designed humans to have individual gifts we can claim as part of our God-given identity. These gifts we can use to not only show others who we are but to whom we belong. He says this in Romans 12: 6-8, and shows us this throughout the whole Bible.
God used ordinary men and women from all walks of life and called them to walk a life that pointed as a signpost back to him. Often, when our gift is revealed to us, we can overlook it or use it for our purpose, or worse the world.
When it comes to receiving their call, many people in the Bible had different responses to it.
Gideon (Judges 6:36-40) & Jonah
Gideon was called by God to defeat the Midianites. However before he followed, he tested God twice. The first was by laying a fleece on the ground and saying the next morning it should be wet with dew and the ground around it dry, and then the reverse order the second time. Keep in mind that Gideon had previously been used by God and thus should have been aware of the power of God or in Jonah’s case, hearing the assignment and literally running away as far as he could. Of course, God saw both of these responses and had planned accordingly. He fulfilled both of Gideon’s tests, saved Jonah from his fear-induced decision and offered him protection. Through both of these stories, we know that not only does God have the power to fulfil whatever test we require for our wavering faith to assure us of His sovereignty, but that He will protect us as well.
If you want to make a bet with God about your calling being YOUR calling, I strongly suggest you do not. God will win the bet. Forever. Always.
In addition, what about the Israelites who were called to God daily in the desert. Though He kept them from the Egyptians and was constantly with them, they often rejected the call to follow His way and law alone. It took decades to reach the Promised Land. A journey that could have been completed in a considerably lesser timeframe.
When we reject our calling, it remains our calling, but it may take some time before the opportunity becomes available again. In my case, it took just over a year before I conceded that my calling is happening. Perhaps it takes time for our eyes to be open and our heart to be willing to look for our calling and claim it quickly and hold on to it.
Our response should be that of Samuel’s when our calling is simply but a whisper. It may take one who is wiser than we to recognise the calling, but it must be you alone who accepts it. God is persistent in His pursuit of you! What an amazing thought! God is always on our side fighting for us. Our calling can take us to amazing places that we would never consider, perhaps through the dark forest where glimpses of light escape from. ‘Do not fear’ is repeated 365 times in God’s word. A simple but powerful statement.
“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God”.
– Corrie Ten Boom
WRITER: Amber Melhuish, attends Ayr Seventh-Day Adventist Church