Is God Really Calling You? 4 Signs You Need to Know

Is your calling God’s direction or personal ambition in disguise? Episode 8 explores how to distinguish true calling from selfish desire. Through biblical examples and Os Guinness’s framework, we will be discerning some of the red flags of ambition and marks of true calling. Read (or watch!) to the end to discover the clarifying question to ask yourself.

Transcript

Hello and welcome to Embrace Our Calling! It is the podcast that helps you to align your work, your faith and your purpose.

I’m your host Marcus Mok, and today we are going to tackle a big question: “Is calling just a spiritual excuse to chase what we already want?”

Have you ever heard someone say, you know that, “Hey, this is my calling in life. God called me to be a writer, a businessman, a pastor, et cetera, to quit my job and to start something that is new”?

And if you’re honest, maybe when you hear that, you will think to yourself, really? Or is this something that you want for yourself?

Maybe this is a question that you struggle with yourself.

You feel drawn to something, but deep down, you ask yourself, is this really what God has called me to do? What if I’m wrong?What if I’m just trying to justify my own desires?

I get it, because I’ve been there.

A while ago, I was at a crossroad in my life. I wanted to shift direction in my work to do something that I was passionate about.

But I started to wonder, was it something that God is leading me to?

Or am I just looking for a holy sounding reason to do what I really want?

That is what we are going to unpack today.

How do you tell the difference between a real calling from God and just personal ambition disguised as a calling?

Because let’s be real, we are not as spiritual as we think we are.

And here’s the thing, that God does call us to specific work in our life, but it doesn’t always look the way we expect.

So let’s break it down.

Biblical Understanding of Calling

So let’s dig into this question. You know, what does the Bible really say about calling?

Because here’s the thing, if we are going to talk about whether calling is just a spiritual excuse for what we want to do, then we better understand what the Bible means by ‘calling’ in the first place.

Recently I was chatting with a friend who said that, “You know, Marcus, I’m not sure whether God actually calls people to specific job, because this sounds like a very modern idea that we have invented.”

And honestly, I think that is a very fair question.

So I went back to scripture to see what is really there that the Bible actually talks about calling. So first we need to clarify what calling even mean biblically.

And I love how Os Guinness break it down in his book, The Call.

And he talks about two types of calling. The first is our primary calling, which is universal for every believer. It is our calling to Christ himself.

In 1 Corinthians 1 verse 9, Paul writes that God has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Before it is about what we do, it is about who we are and whose we are.

Then there is our secondary calling, how we live out that primary calling in specific contexts like our work, our family and our community.

So for that we think about Ephesians 4 verse 1, where Paul urges us to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

Now I remember wrestling with this distinction in my own life. For years I thought that calling only applied to pastors and missionaries. But then I realized that I had it backward, because God calls all of us to himself first and then gives us different ways to live that out.

Biblical Examples of Specific Callings ‎

Does God really call people to specific work? Let me share some examples that may surprise you.

Think about Bezalel in Exodus 31. Here’s this guy that God specifically calls out by name.

And get this, you know, the text says that God filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom and understanding and knowledge and all kinds of skills.

What did God call him to?

To be a pastor?

No.

It was to be a craftsman working on the tabernacle.

So that’s right. God specifically equips someone with the skills for creative artistic work.

Or take Jeremiah, God tells him, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

And that is a very specific calling.

And in the New Testament, we see the Holy Spirit saying in Acts 13, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Now I get it, most of us didn’t get to hear an audible voice like that.

But scripture also talks about how God gives different gifts to different people.

Romans 12 and 1st Corinthians 12 list various gifts that were distributed for the common good.

And these gifts, whether they are gifts of leadership, teaching, serving and encouraging, they often align with the work that we are suited for.

Sacred Nature of All Work ‎

“But Marcus,” you might be thinking, “those are all examples of religious work. What about regular jobs?”

That’s a great question.

So first we need to go back to Genesis. You see, even before the Fall God gave Adam and Eve work to do, which is to cultivate and care for the Garden of Eden.

Work itself is part of God’s good design.

The reformers, especially Martin Luther, recovered this biblical truth.

Luther said something pretty revolutionary, that the works of monks and priests are no different in God’s eyes than the rustic labourer in the field or the woman going about her household’s tasks.

In other words, all legitimate work can be sacred.

So for example, let’s say you are a software developer who may feel guilty that you are not in full-time Christian ministry.

But now you realize that your code was helping people to connect and also to solve problems.

Slowly you began to see your work as part of your calling.

And so the question in your mind will shift from, “Should I quit to do ministry?” to, “How is my work itself ministry?”

Patterns of Calling in Scripture ‎

So what does calling actually look like in scripture?

Okay, let’s go down to more specific example.

What patterns do we see in the Bible when God calls certain people?

Joseph

So, think about Joseph.

Was his calling a straight shot to success?

Hardly.

His calling included 13 years of slavery and imprisonment.

And yet Genesis 50 verse 20 tells us that God’s purpose prevailed despite the terrible circumstances that he faced.

Esther

Or Esther. Did she grow up saying that, you know, I felt that I was called to be a queen to save my people?

No, she was placed in a position that she did not even seek for herself.

And Mordecai has to point out that perhaps she was there for such a time as this.

Paul

And Paul, yes, he was an apostle, but he also worked as someone who was making tents.

Acts 18 tells us that Paul supported himself in this way.

Plus, his calling came with a warning. Jesus himself said that, “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

Not exactly the prosperity gospel kind of calling, right?

So here’s what strikes me about this biblical example.

You see, calling often involve difficulty and sacrifice.

It often takes unexpected turns in our life.

It serves others more than ourselves.

It requires patience and perseverance.

It integrates with ordinary life and work.

So what is the takeaway here?

God’s calling is real, but it is not usually what we expect.

As Dietrich Bonhoeffer first put it, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”

Those are strong words, but they remind us that calling is really about surrender and not about self-fulfillment.

Frederick Buechner described calling beautifully as the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.

So it is never just about what makes you happy, but it is about how your life can meet the needs out there and serve other people.

Red Flags of Personal Ambition ‎

So what are some of the red flags or warning signs that what you’re calling as calling might actually be personal ambition?

1. It is primarily about personal success or fulfillment.

So if your motivation is mainly about achieving fame, financial security or self fulfillment, now that is something that you need to think twice.

James 4 verse 3 tells us that sometimes “when you ask, you do not receive because you ask with the wrong motives.”

2. There is no willingness to sacrifice or to face difficulty.

So if you are only interested in the parts that feel good or bring recognition to yourself, that is a warning sign.

Jesus was pretty clear in Matthew 16 verse 24 that following Him involves you taking up the cross, not just chasing after your dreams.

3. You avoid or dismiss wise counsel.

Now this is a big warning sign.

If you find yourself resistant to feedback, or you are just seeking out those people who will validate what you already want to do, pause and reflect.

Proverbs 15 verse 22 tells us that plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors, they will succeed.

4. Your vision has no impact beyond yourself.

If the calling that you’re pursuing only benefit yourself and doesn’t serve others or to advance God’s kingdom in some way, This might be just self-focused ambition.

Remember Jesus’ words in John 15 verse 16 that we are appointed to “go and bear fruits”.

Signs of True Calling ‎

So what are some of the signs that it might be a true calling?

On the flip side, here are some indicators that what you are experiencing may indeed be God’s calling for you.

1. It aligns with scriptures.

God’s calling will never contradict his revealed word.

So if what you feel called to promotes values that are consistent with Biblical teaching, that is one positive sign.

2. It serves beyond yourself.

True calling almost always extends beyond personal benefit to bless others and to advance God’s purposes in the world.

3. It is affirmed by wise godly community.

When mature believers who know you well see evidence of God’s hand in this direction, that is a significant confirmation.

4. It persists through difficulties.

True calling often survives the test of time and trial.

If your sense of calling remains steady even when the path gets tough, that suggests that it is more than just a passing interest.

5. You’re willing to follow God’s timing and not just your own.

True calling involves surrender to God’s process and timeline even when it is slower or different than what you would have preferred.

So the ultimate discernment question is this, and this is a question that I found incredibly clarifying in my own life, that:

If this specific opportunity disappear tomorrow, would my devotion to God remain just as strong?

If your spiritual life will be devastated by the loss of this particular path, then you might be more attached to the opportunity than to God himself.

True calling flows from a relationship with God.

It doesn’t replace it.

Surrendering Your Dreams to God ‎

So how do you surrender your dreams to God?

So, what if you’ve done this heart check and realized that perhaps what you’ve been calling ‘God’s calling’ has more to do with your ambitions than his direction? Don’t worry, this is actually a moment of growth and not failure.

Here is how to realign.

The first thing is to pray the heart check prayer.

So start with an honest prayer, something as simple as:

“Lord, search my heart. Is this about You or about me? I surrender my desires to you. Help me to want you more than what I want.”

This is not a one-time prayer, it is an ongoing posture.

Psalms 139 verse 23 to 24 models it beautifully.

“Search me, oh God, and know my heart. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Practice open-handed obedience.

One of the most profound stories in scripture is Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac in Genesis 22.

God has promised Abraham that Isaac will be the fulfillment of his covenant.

And yet Abraham was willing to surrender even that promise back to God.

The principle here is powerful.

Anything that we can’t open-handedly surrender to God has become an idol.

If you are truly following God’s calling, you must be willing to lay it down if He asks.

Paradoxically, sometimes it is in the surrender that we find clarity about our true calling.

Take the next faithful step.

So here’s what’s liberating.

You don’t need to have your entire life’s calling figured out today.

Just take the next faithful step in front of you.

As Proverbs 16 verse 9 tells us, that in their hearts, human planned their course, but the Lord established their steps.

So sometimes, calling becomes clear only as we move forward in faithful obedience one step at a time.

Ask yourself, what is the next right thing that God is asking me to do?

And then do that with excellence, integrity and joy.

The next step in your calling will become clear in time.

Conclusion

So let me leave you with this.

Your calling is not primarily about your fulfillment or success.

It is really about the faithful stewardship of the gifts, the opportunity and the relationship that God has entrusted to you for His purposes and others’ benefit.

Your true calling will stretch you, will shape you and serve others.

And here’s the beautiful paradox that when we stop fixating on finding our calling, and instead focus on following Christ faithfully wherever we are, our calling will find us.

If you are feeling stuck or confused about your calling right now, I encourage you to surrender it to God.

And as Jesus promised in Matthew 6 verse 33, seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

God wouldn’t let you miss what he has truly prepared for you.

So hey, if this episode has resonated with you, I would love for you to share it with others who is also struggling with the question of calling and purpose.

And if you haven’t already, subscribe to Embrace Our Calling so you don’t miss the next upcoming episode when we will continue to unpack the intersection of faith, work and purpose.I’ll see you next time.

Until then, embrace your calling with faith and courage.

About the Host

Marcus Mok is an educator and podcaster in Singapore passionate about helping Christians discover their God-given calling. Through his experience in education and theological studies, he guides listeners in navigating the intersection of faith and work, helping them embrace their unique purpose with biblical wisdom and practical insights.

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Embrace Our Calling is a podcast dedicated to helping Christians discover and live out their God-given calling. New episodes are released biweekly.