Have you been looking for signs you’ve discovered your unique calling? You’re not alone. Most of us look for signs to confirm our calling at some point or another.
Unfortunately, discovering your calling is rarely a straightforward business. It can be extremely tricky to decipher God’s voice and discern His will. In all of the confusion that can accompany your quest to discover your calling, it’s entirely natural to look for confirmation.
Keep reading to explore 8 common signs you’ve discovered your unique calling.
What a calling is
First things first, let’s make sure we’re on the same page about this whole calling thing.
Your Christian calling can be divided into two categories: corporate and personal. For the sake of this post we will focus on your personal calling. To put it simply, your personal calling is an invitation from God to use your gifts to further His kingdom.
You can sense God’s call at any time in your life through a variety of avenues. God might call you directly by speaking to you audibly or through a dream or vision. He might use another person to communicate your calling to you or a radical encounter that likely isn’t audible but it is obvious.
We are all called to use our gifts to further God’s kingdom but we aren’t all called to do that in the same way. Your calling becomes personal and unique when you tune in to what God specifically has in mind for you.
Why it’s important to operate in your calling
Considering that you have a unique way to spread the Good News about God’s kingdom thanks to your gifts, passions, and life experience it’s not hard to see why it’s important to operate in your calling. Bottom line, no one else can do what you’ve been called to do, how you’ve been called to do it.
But your calling isn’t just about you and your uniqueness. Your calling is primarily about the people that God has intended you to reach through your calling. The most important reason to operate in your calling is the people you have the potential to impact.
Now that you’ve got a sense of what a calling is and why it’s important to operate in yours, keep reading to explore 8 signs you’ve discovered your unique calling.
8 Signs you’ve discovered your unique calling
#1 You can’t stop thinking about it
Your calling can often feel borderline like an obsession. You won’t be able to stop thinking about it, hearing about it, or even seeing it. God is persistent when He has called us to do something. He’ll remind you of your calling often.
Don’t ignore a cause, business idea, or job opportunity you can’t stop thinking about or encountering.
#2 You can look back on your life and recognize how you’ve been preparing all along for your calling
Your calling seems to suddenly make sense when you take a walk down memory lane. When God is calling you to do something you’ll be able to look back on your life, reflect on your story, and see how He’s been preparing you for this all along.
Note that you may not immediately be able to see how your past has prepared you for your present calling. Take some time to pause and reflect on significant relationships, moments where your gifts shined, and even hardships. It’s all primed you for the heavenly assignments set before you.
#3 You have a sense of peace
Your calling is always accompanied by a sense of peace. Not necessarily right away. Most of us feel terrified, unqualified, and plagued with imposter syndrome when we first encounter our calling. All of those feelings are totally normal.
Eventually, you’ll feel a sense of peace when you embrace the work you’ve been called to do. If you’ve been walking in your calling for a while and still don’t feel a sense of peace, reach out to a mentor, coach, or pastor for help.
#4 Other people affirm your calling
You’ll be affirmed when you’re operating in your calling. Other people will see your gifts shining and the impact you are making and remark on it.
Affirmation will often come in the form of encouragement, kudos, or support. Embrace every affirmation you receive along the way and hold them close in tough times.
Note: you will also be criticized in your calling. Don’t interpret criticism as a sign to stop. Keep going until God until God tells you to stop.
#5 You feel challenged – in a good way
Despite what you might think, your calling usually doesn’t feel very comfortable. The truth is, operating in your calling will come with many challenges that often feel uncomfortable. And that’s a good thing!
Being challenged in your calling forces you to rely on God’s strength rather than your own. When you rely on your own strength, your calling might feel easy and uncomplicated. Remember, that easy breezy space may feel comfortable but it’s not your point of greatest impact.
True impact for God’s Kingdom and obedience to your calling happens when you rely on your creator and embrace the challenge of walking out His call on your life.
#6 You’re growing spiritually
Spiritual growth spurts are a major sign that you’ve discovered your unique calling. Similar to feeling challenged, this sign often feels uncomfortable too. Learn to embrace the discomfort because the temporary growing pains you feel are totally worth the advancement you achieve.
To summarize it simply, spiritual growth is forward momentum in your walk with Christ. Spiritual growth could look like spending more time with God and in His Word, getting more involved in Christ-centered community activities, submitting more to God’s will and the needs of others than your own, and so on.
Read more about what spiritual growth looks like here.
#7 You can’t escape it
Kind of like sign #1 you won’t be able to escape your calling. Your calling will keep coming up no matter where you go or how hard you resist it.
You may be familiar with stories like Jonah. Jonah resisted his calling but no matter how far he ran or how hesitant he was to obey, he couldn’t escape his calling.
When it comes to your calling, keep an eye out for coincidences and confirmation. God can and will use ANYTHING to get your attention. Unfortunately we often write off God’s attention grabbing tactics as coincidence. We’re also pretty good at explaining away instances of random confirmation in our calling (think the stranger at the grocery store that says something off handedly that they have no idea confirmed something God has been saying to you and other random encounters like that).
No matter what you do my friend once God has called you, you can’t escape it.
#8 You’re eager to take the next step
A final sign that you’ve discovered your unique calling is enthusiasm. Once you’ve discovered your calling you will be eager to respond and take the next step.
The enthusiasm may not be immediate but it will be powerful, motivating, and energizing. The world needs more Christian eager to respond to their call so embrace your enthusiasm and get to work my friend!
Ready to step into your calling with clarity and confidence?
Stepping into your calling is one of the most exciting things you will ever do! And also the most terrifying and confusing…Doing Kingdom work is a big deal. You don’t want to get it wrong or mess it up. You want confidence that you’ve heard God correctly and peace of mind that you’re following His lead.
That’s where I come in. I help Christians like you step into your calling with clarity and confidence. Through one-on-one coaching I’ll help you discover your gifts and strengths, identify obstacles that are holding you back, and take your next best step forward. Learn more here.
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