Purpose & Calling: Asking the Right Questions

As women it is easy to wonder if we are walking in our calling and to try to figure out what our purpose is on this earth. I hear so many ladies talk about how they are “finding themselves.” So many voices tell us who to be and what to do. We hear that we should follow our heart, find our passion and that we are #bossbabes. Even in our Christian communities I hear women lamenting over not knowing what God wants them to do next and questioning if they are truly walking in His will. It seems women across all walks are uncertain of their purpose and calling.

Friends, we may be asking the wrong questions. The world has definitely fed us the wrong narrative. The Bible clearly lays out that we have a unified purpose and calling as believers. We must quit waiting for the next “thing” and look at what is right in front of us to start fulfilling our purpose in this earthly life. How we go about the execution of these things is where we will differ.

A Unified Purpose

For many years I was striving to find my purpose in this life. Even 8 years into my Christian walk, I still found myself wondering and searching. I was convinced for a while that achieving my goals and making the world a better place was my purpose on this earth. Later in life, I began to think that my purpose was to have children and raise them to be good Christian people. It was the search for how to teach my children to be “good Christian people” that helped me stumble upon the Westminister Shorter Catechism. In this booklet I found what I had been looking for.

It was question number one: What is man’s primary purpose? The answer so plainly spelled out right in front of me shifted something in me that day, “to glorify God and enjoy him forever.”

Of course, I started researching the scripture verses that lined up with that answer, and sure enough, there were plenty. The truth had always been in front of me, but I never really saw it with my own eyes and it never truly sank in until it was explained so simplistically. From that point forward, I began living my life through this lens. To know that my purpose on this earth is to bring glory to God that takes such a burden off of me. There is so much freedom in knowing that is what He wants from me. I hope it brings freedom to you, too. We as believers have a unified purpose to glorify God!

A couple of verses from the Bible on man’s purpose being to glorify God are:

Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. Isaiah 43:7

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Our God-given Calling

After Jesus is resurrected and appears on earth for 40 days, he has a conversation with His disciples before ascending into heaven. In this conversation He gives them what is referred to as “the Great Commission.” Since this is His last conversation in His earthly body with His disciples, I’d venture to say, it’s pretty important.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

“Go” in Greek is translated to “as you go.” “Make disciples” is imperative; this means it’s a command. Simply put, we are commanded by Jesus himself to make disciples as we go. This is our calling as believers. As we go… to the store, about our daily lives, in line at the grocery store… make disciples.

A disciple is a follower or student of a teacher or leader. In the Christian sense, a disciple is considered a personal follower of Jesus. In order to make disciples of Jesus, first we have to be disciples ourselves. Then, we can make disciples by modeling our lives after His and sharing Him and our lives with others. Every Christian is called to make disciples, not just the leaders in the Church.

How do we Glorify God and Make Disciples?

Asking the right questions can help us easily determine how to live out our purpose of glorifying God and our calling to make disciples. Consider these four questions:

1. Where does God have me? As I mentioned before, so many of us are asking the questions about what is next? What does God want for me? I truly think the first question we should ask ourselves is where does God have me. He may end up moving you into another workspace, church, city or even country, but where does God have you now? Asking this question has helped me focus on the present season of life and how I can make disciples in this season. If we are making disciples as we go, that is not as we go in a year from now, it’s right now, in the current space we occupy!
2. Who does God have me with? Who are you constantly around, in the company of, or hanging out with? It’s so easy to believe the lie that we need to be missionaries in a foreign country to make a difference. Some are gifted and called to foreign ministries. Yet, many of us are called to make disciples in our workplace, our friend groups, in our neighborhoods and especially in our own homes. If you feel the urge to make disciples look at those in closest proximity to you and teach them what you know. Share your “Jesus” story or a scripture that really made a difference to you. Being willing to be used and making the first step can be the hardest part. Remember, the Holy Spirit dwells within believers which is literally God living inside of us.
3. (and 4.) What gifts has God given me? What are my passions? The last two questions go hand in hand. This is where believers start to differ in the execution of glorifying God and making disciples. As an example, if you’re passionate about painting and have the gift of hospitality, you could host a paint night for your neighborhood friends where you paint a Christmas picture and share the story of Christmas with them. If you have the gift of exhortation and love to walk in the evening, you can walk with a struggling friend and encourage her with scripture. We can go about making disciples by leaning into those gifts and passions and using them for good works that honor God!

So friends, knowing your unified purpose and God-given calling, ask yourself these important questions: Where does God have me? Who does God have me with? What gifts has God given me? What are my passions? And, how can I use this knowledge, gifting and passion to make disciples and glorify Him? Instead of the constant searching for ourselves, we can find our purpose and calling in Him.