I believe there comes a time where God brings us right to the threshold of our destiny and then stops us suddenly before we cross over into our appointed calling. It’s not an abrupt halt to where He has suddenly changed His mind and contemplates to turn back. Instead, I see it as a way for Him to grasp our attention before we step into the ultimate answer of our prayers. The freewill God has granted unto us has ultimately and faithfully given us an intersection...a choice; Our plans and desires, or His.

When we come to the true revelation that we are indeed the beloved of God, our next desire is to fully come to the understanding of what our calling is...what God designed us for. I have met many people in the past few years who have shown extravagant love for Jesus, but yet still hold the heart-wrenching void of not fully knowing what God has called them to do while traveling this short time on earth. The Word of God reminds us that life is but a vapor in comparison to eternity, and with age, we learn that our clock on the wall is merely a measurement of that reality. Many have considered and accepted the fact that when they finally figure out their calling, then they will have a purpose. This couldn’t be further from the truth. As a matter of fact, it is the other way around; because you have a purpose, you do in fact have a calling.

The problem is our perspective.

This world has continuously drilled it into our minds that we must BECOME someone that fits the social standard in order to finally obtain some sort of "worth". Adoration is gathered through empty compliments, love is generated through lustful desires, pain can be numbed by the help of man-made prescriptions, wealth can replace faith and inevitably move mountains if you have enough of it, the list of backward ideologies could go on forever but I’m sure you are aware of the point I am trying to make. We have countless opportunities to find our worth, our destiny, and our purpose in things that will one day fade away.

As humans, we ache for the unconditional in a limited and conditional world.

We want so badly to fit into something that we really were never created to ever fit into. We were meant to add to this world by holding supreme authority and existing in it, not blending in and becoming apart of it.

I can’t help but think of John 15:16 when I reflect on the purpose & calling of God. Do you want to know what your calling is? Listen to what Jesus said…

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you."

Wow! His purpose for us is to simply abide in Him as He is the vine and us being the branches, and He has appointed us to bear fruit. Why has He appointed us to bear fruit? So that WHATEVER we ask for from the Father in His precious name, shall be given to us. Our main goal, besides loving Jesus extravagantly, should be to bear fruit. If we bypass this critical calling, how do we honestly expect to go to the Father in prayer for other things that we may need upon this earth? If we do not realize that the fruit of the spirit is a “need” rather than a “want”, then our misplacement of that first priority will determine the outcome of the rest of our lives and what we end up doing on this earth.

Our first calling is to love the Lord our God with everything that we have.

Along with that comes abiding in Jesus and continuously producing fruit so that in all things He may be glorified not only to the world, but in our personal lives and in our prayers to obtain things in the future. After this comes the actual earthly calling God has placed upon each and everyone of us. But we must realize that without the first two already in order in our lives, finding our earthly calling will be difficult to obtain and impossible to hold onto.

A blessing is truly not a blessing if you are not ready to receive it.

God will not place something upon you that He knows will end up destroying you. He first prepares you before He positions you. He does His good work IN you before He sets you on fire for the world to bring that good work THROUGH you. He loves you far too much than to catapulte you into your calling unprepared. Don’t curse this process on the way to your blessing, it’s your attitude that God wants to perfect. He desires for you to obtain and produce all of the fruit of the spirit. Why? Because without them, you will never be able to successfully walk and operate in the calling He has placed upon your life.

My advice to you is very simple: Take one day at a time and be patient with yourself.

I hate to break it to you, but YOU are the one surprised by your weakness, not God. He knew exactly what He was getting into when He called you forth and still He called you anyways. He isn’t surprised and put off by your struggles. No, not in the least. He rejoices in them for that is when He can become your perfect strength.

So before you decide to stop believing, before you allow yourself to become weary, realize that you may be closer to the revealing of your calling than you naturally think. God sometimes takes a “pause” right before the big breakthrough. He likes to stand you up, brush you off, and square your shoulders back before He has you walk through that door to blow this world away with what He has placed inside of you. Enjoy this moment and be glad, for God is at work.

You are closer than you think.

Galations 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Amy Basel