People are curious about how they might discover their spiritual callings, or what God wants them to do with their lives. They want to discover God's one, huge purpose for them, the one spiritual gift that will reach hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of others. However, the truth is that God does not call many individuals to devote their lives to a single cause. And if He does, it will be at His own pace.
People who establish their expertise and stay there for years usually get the most attention in mainstream Christian culture. Evangelists, singers, and parachurch leaders sometimes spend decades honing and mastering the one field in which God has called them to serve. However, the vast majority of Christians are not called to a single, revolutionary ministry. Instead, depending on our stage of life, spiritual maturity level, and the needs of those around us, we're called to several. Wherever we are, God calls us to serve. Someone with a teaching gift might lead a Sunday school class for a while, then teach at a Christian school before writing curriculum. Alternatively, he could work in a bank and find opportunities to teach others about God in more casual settings. We are ultimately called to meet the needs of the body (1 Corinthians 12:7), but that does not always imply that we will have a single, lifelong ministry to focus on.
God does sometimes assign a specific ministry to a person, but He always does it in His own time. It takes time to build the insight and skills we require, just as it does before a competition (1 Corinthians 3:2). We'd strive to do too much too quickly if God gave us the task before the training. Instead, God takes time to develop our practical talents (Luke 2:52), spiritual knowledge (2 Peter 3:18), and trust (2 Peter 3:18). (James 2:22). In James 1:2-4, James addressed this issue: "Consider it pure joy, dear brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that putting your faith to the test promotes perseverance. Allow perseverance to accomplish its work in order for you to be mature and complete, wanting nothing."
Many people are eager to discover their divine calling, but the word "calling" almost always refers to our calling as believers in the New Testament (Romans 11:29; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:18, 4:1, 4; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; 2 Timothy 1:9; Hebrews 3:1; 2 Peter 1:10), not to our calling to a specific ministry. Our "calling" is ultimately to love God, love others, obey God, and care for others. God will take care of our impact on the world if we focus on performing the obligations He has given us right now.
