3 Clues to Clarify Calling

As a boy in Sunday School, I was captivated by Samuel’s story. I both feared and hoped to hear God’s calling as Samuel did. As I grew older, I longed for the courage to say, “Speak, your servant is listening.” More than four decades into my calling, I’ve realized that discerning one’s calling can be more confusing than clarifying for many people. So, how do you help someone discern their calling? Here are three clues to help guide you.

Jesus sent the 72 “to every town and place where he was about to go.” Saul was called “to proclaim Jesus’ name to the Gentiles and their kings.” He initially wanted to go to Asia but had a vision calling him to Macedonia. Sometimes a calling is towards a specific group of people—college students, empty nesters, or individuals facing particular challenges. Other times, it’s a specific place—a city like Denver, a neighborhood like Hyde Park, or even a particular street like Acorn. Often, it’s a combination of both. After many conversations with people exploring their call to church planting, it’s clear that a conviction about a specific people or place is the first clue to recognizing their calling.

I believe God’s calling ultimately leads to making disciples, and I have a bias towards church planting. However, I recognize that God calls people to various purposes. Consider Jesus’ reading from Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.” Vague concepts like “we’ll be Jesus’ presence” or “we’ll love on them” are not specific callings—they are actions we are all meant to do as followers of Jesus. A true purpose brings about a tangible change in and through the name of Jesus. When the specific change God wants someone to bring becomes clear, that’s the second clue to their calling.

The first word in Acts 16 is “Paul.” If this is a movie, he’s the protagonist. However, this isn’t a one-person show. By verse 10, the narrative shifts from “they” to “we,” indicating Luke’s role in writing about the Holy Spirit’s work in and through the church—and possibly funding the trip to Macedonia. God calls some people to lead and others to follow. He gives gifts and talents that align with the part He’s calling someone to play. When these elements come together, that’s the third clue to their calling.

To help people discover their calling, three simple questions can bring these clues to light:

When someone can answer these questions, their sense of calling will become clear.