...But I am called to do something else!!!!

10+ years ago I graduated from college with a degree in Youth Ministry (Yes, it is a real degree). I had felt the call of God on my life to pursue full-time ministry, and was well on my way to that, or so I thought.

Resume after resume was sent out, only to receive rejection after rejection. In fact, I think I had more rejections than I had actual resumes sent. It was a very disheartening process and I allowed it too much control in my life, and I eventually left church altogether as a result. But just because I left the church did not mean that I was not called to ministry anymore. The flame was still there, although its intensity was not great.

I heard a quote once that went something like this, “Don’t ever give up on that which you can’t go a day without thinking about.” That is exactly what I had done. Given up on the very thing I knew that I was called to do. So I went to work a job in a very secular arena, and relegated myself to the fact that that was going to be my life. I am so glad that God doesn’t give up as quickly as I do. I would be well up the proverbial creek at this point if He had.

So long story short, I found a church, and the passion was reignited towards my calling. But now the issue was that I was in a job that I didn’t care much for, there was no job available at the church I was serving at, and my house payment needed to still be paid. I very quickly learned the principle of being faithful with little.

I started playing bass in the youth ministry. That led to playing guitar in both youth and main services. That led to leading worship for the youth service, which was probably the biggest stretch for me up until that point. Then that opened the door to preaching and leading a small group, then to leading an entire midweek service. After that 4-year process, the door finally opened to full-time paid ministry.

The process in rarely easy, and is never scripted the way we want it to be scripted, but it is always the best in the long run. God knows what He is doing. Have faith that God has called you, let faith turn into trust the God is taking care of it, and let trust pave the way for your destiny. If you are faithful with one, God gives you another. If you are faithful with that, then you get another, and on and on goes the cycle. If you cannot be trusted with one, you will circle the mountain endlessly, and the frustration will most certainly build to unbearable heights. BE FAITHFUL RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE!!!!!

As we look back on our lives and how we ended up where we are, our stories will all be different, but principles that we learn in the process will be quite similar. We will be able to relate with those people that are in the middle or early stages of the process, and offer words of encouragement or advice. God will use you at any stage that you are at in the process if you remain faithful!