Amy Carroll » Ministry Development » Walking in Your Calling When Your Confidence is Crashing (Part 2)

Walking in Your Calling When Your Confidence is Crashing (Part 2)

If you missed last week, click here. It’s gotten late, and since this is the only time to post this week, I’m diving right in!

When you’re unsure of your calling… 

No matter how many good days you’ve had in ministry, it only takes one bad day to shake us up. Here are two of three things to do when you start to wonder if you’re really supposed to be doing this at all:

  1. Recall the beginning. When did you first know you were called to speak or write? There are three memories of events when I knew for sure. One was at a table listening to a friend in ministry when I thought, “I’d do anything if it was my full time job to talk about Jesus all day.” The second happened as I sat on a dirt floor in a slum of Kolkata telling stories of the Bible to women while they listened enraptured by His truth. The third was the first time I spoke in front of a large crowd. I was shaking in my shoes, but when it was all over, I was swept with the knowledge that I had just done what I was made to do. Those three memories are strong and clear, and I ruminate on them on tough days.
  2. Record the story of your calling. What has happened since then that has confirmed your calling? When I joined the P31 team, Micca Campbell was my coach, and she gave me great advice. She urged me to write down all the affirmations of my calling–comments after an event, a mentor’s encouragement, etc. I have to confess that I haven’t done it in a journal, but I have a record. I keep copies of emails and cards people send on my desk to reread in moments of despair. You’ve sent me some of the words of affirmation in that stack! Another way to do it is to make a spiritual timeline and add significant ministry events to your timeline as they happen. Years ago when I did Experiencing God, I carried a timeline like this in my Bible everywhere I went as a reminder of God’s work in and through me.

Number 3 is a biggie, so I’ll share that one in a whole post next week. Would you share some of your remembrances and recordings with us? I’d love to hear your stories of calling!

 

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6 Comments

  1. I love the spiritual timeline idea! I’m a visual learner and love the idea of putting it down on paper so I can SEE how God laid it on my heart and opened doors for me to pursue speaking for Him. Thank you for sharing this idea!

  2. I have so needed your last two posts. I am struggling right now with my calling and with defining it further. I am also struggling with needing to just start blogging and stop thinking about it and trying to figure it out and just do it. I hope to spend some time meditating on and praying through some of the things you’ve suggested here. Thank you.

    1. Julie, I’m praying for you right now before I write the next post!

  3. For me, God spoke very clearly one January morning that I was called to encourage women to share their stories. However, the first time I saw that calling come to life and it truly ignited the flame God had begun inside me was when I shared my story at a women’s retreat. The next day a little old lady (and I say that kindly) walked up to me to thank me for sharing my story, and that because of my courage to do so, God had given her the courage to share her story with some friends that same day, it was a story that she had hidden for over 35 years and had never even told her husband or twin sister. I wanted to jump over the table and hug her, however she has never left my mind, and when I doubt my calling God reminds me of her! There have been others like this that have been beautiful reminders of why I am to do what I know God has called me to do! Thank you for your post!

    1. Oh, Jennifer… thank you for sharing this story. What a powerful role allowed you to play in that woman’s life as He set her free from a secret!