You’re doing things by the book. You’ve invested time and energy into this thing and you haven’t made any progress. Know the feeling?
We all hit roadblocks at some point or another in the journey to answering our calling. However, continually failing to make progress or find success in your calling is not a common roadblock. Lack of success in the thing that God has called you to do is likely due to an inability to overcome excuses, confusion about what your calling really is, or unresolved inner work.
Ready to see which cause has been preventing you from being successful in your calling?
Excuses
As the former queen of excuses, I’m here to call you out. I’ve heard it all…I can’t afford it. I’m not smart enough. Someone else is probably already doing it…
What is your excuse of choice when it comes to your calling?
I love the saying “doubt kills more dreams than fear ever will” but I think excuses are the cause of even more calling casualties. It’s so easy to sit the sidelines and wish we had what others have worked for. Our excuses become a pretty comfy cushion for our covetous complaints and if we aren’t intentional in the pursuit of our passions we run the risk of letting weeks, months, and years pass us by before we take action.
Don’t allow excuses to rob you of success in your calling. Decide today to break up with the excuses that have been holding you back. Through God, the author and orchestrator of our calling, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).
Consider spending some time today identifying fears that have been holding you back. Journal through possible solutions to the excuses that have been preventing your success.
You Haven’t Truly Found Your Calling
Let’s say your excuse free, but your calling doesn’t necessarily align with God’s will. How do we identify God’s will in our calling? The equation is pretty simple.
Glorifies God + serves others + uses your gifts = your calling.
With various definitions, opinions, and perspectives on the topic of calling swirling around it is astonishingly easy to convince yourself that you’ve found your calling when, in fact, you’re far off the mark.
My favorite definition of calling is: a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence (Miriam Webster). I love this definition because it acknowledges God’s hand in the matter. Apart from “divine influence” you’re calling might be something of your own creation.
A strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence
Miriam Webster
There have been times in my own journey where I was terribly confused and frustrated. I had to stop and ask God am I following your will or imposing my own? In other words, when things get especially tough, I’ve had to stop and ask if my calling aligns with the equation above.
Friend, if your “calling” doesn’t contain at least two components of the equation above you will likely struggle to be successful in your calling. Even if you are “successful” without following the equation above, you won’t be fulfilled. And what’s the point of success if there’s no fulfillment in it?
You’ve got some work to do…
What if you’ve overcome excuses, clearly identified your calling and you still can’t find success?
You, my friend, might have some work to do. Inner work!
Unresolved grief, unprocessed anger, and debilitating anxiety are just a few examples of inner work that can make or break your success. Take some time to monitor your mental and emotional state.
Are you avoiding important work, exhibiting inappropriate emotional responses or over working to the point of burnout? Any and/or all of the aforementioned behaviors can take a toll on your success. If you identify with one or more of these behaviors consider taking some time off or connecting with a counselor.
However you choose to tackle the task of inner work, do take this point seriously. I can’t stress enough how important it is to bring to consciousness your unconscious motivations and processes. This can be a major key to finding success in your calling.
Which point resonated with you?
What has been inhibiting your success? Excuses? A false calling? Or maybe some unprocessed inner work?
Whatever has been holding you back know this, you don’t have to stay stuck there. God has called you to do important work! Identify your excuses and make a game plan to resist them next time they arise. Consult God about your calling. Are you doing work that glorifies Him, serves others, and uses your gifts? And don’t forget to do your work! Make peace with the symptoms of unresolved healing.
Read On
What Does it Mean to Live a Life Worthy of Your Calling
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