God’s Call

Do we realize everything is God’s call? It hit me tonight, God is Sovereign, which means He calls the shots. All of them.

But let me begin with a story.

A Personal Story

Think back with me to long ago, in a faraway land. Well, maybe not so long ago or so far away. But considering all the changes, it seems like another world.

It was 1960s in Southern suburbia, USA. Life was good.

No one wore bike helmets or knee pads. Cars had seatbelts that were never worn. And children played outside freely while fireflies and crickets filled the night with beauty.

Back then, travel sports were unheard of. School sports happened during the school year. And in the summer, county parks offered organized sports for the local children.

For years, the softball field was our summer home. And once I aged out of being a player, I spent several summers helping Dad coach a team of young ladies.

Here’s what I learned. If you begged to go in, you probably would sit on the bench longer. Dad was just that way. But if you let him put you where he wanted you to be, if you let him call the shots, you would play when and where he thought you would be the best help for the team.

God’s Call

Playing a position on my dad’s softball team wasn’t the choice of the player. It was the coach’s call. And each child of God is called to play a position in God’s kingdom. But it’s His call. Not ours.

We’re all called to walk in righteousness and truth. But we also each have a calling based on His plan for us and for the world. He knows exactly how He’s made us, who He wants to impact through us, and what He wants to accomplish within us. Everything is His call.

Sometimes we feel sidelined. As if we need to beg God to put us in. In reality, if we follow His general call while we wait on Him for a special call, we’ll realize we actually are always in the game, right where we need to be.

God’s General Call

God calls each of us to Himself. His love for us is great, and He wants us to know and love Him. To walk with Him. To find joy in the life He gives us.

1 Corinthians 1:9 says,

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

While we’re called into this fellowship, “many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14).

God chooses those who trust in Him, who place their full reliance upon His ability to save them for eternity (John 3:16, John 17:3). And once we recognize our need of Him and accept the redemption that is ours through Christ’s sacrifice, we’re ready for the special call God has for each of His children.

Before we can enjoy any special calling, before we can play first base or catcher, we have to first join the team. Our holy Creator wants a team of souls eager to walk with Him in holiness. We can’t be holy as He is on our own, but through the power of His Holy Spirit at work in us, we get the joy of walking with Him now and forever.

God’s Special Call

If someone who is a great out-fielder won’t play ball well unless they’re allowed to pitch, the team might lose game after game. The players are part of a team and as such all need to practice catching and hitting. But they need to play the position called by the coach.

Similarly, God’s people are all called to walk in love and truth. But each believer is also called to a certain path or role, chosen for them by our Creator.

Ephesians 2:10 tells us,

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

According to Scripture, each believer is given spiritual gifts for use in building up the body of Christ. But we know not all are given the same gift or gifts (Romans 12:4-8, Ephesians 4:1-7, 1 Corinthians 12:4-7). Allowing God to call us to service based on the gifts He gives us is important. It’s His special call for us.

God has prepared us for good works. His call. Are we walking with our Creator close enough to hear Him when He tells us to get in the game?

Accept God’s Call

Last week I spent five days in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. I joined hundreds of Christians who feel called to produce content sharing the love of God with the world.

People often speak of God’s call as some special role in life. A pastor, musician, writer, speaker.

But in reality, God calls all His children to some special role. It may be mother, teacher, plumber, nurse, caregiver, doctor, gas station attendant, electrician, student. Grocery store clerk, hair dresser, flight attendant, garbage collector, or president. Each and every position in life God calls someone to is important.

Because this world is tainted by sin, some people find themselves called to live with health issues or fighting emotional struggles. Jehovah can show His power and glory by supplying strength for an individual going through such hard situations.

For another, Abba may choose to show His compassion and love by offering years of joyful abundance. In every case, it’s God’s call. One day, the Almighty will stop all pain and suffering. But for now He allows even these things to be used for His glory, growing beauty from the ashes of a sin-wrecked world.

Jehovah God is Sovereign. When we willingly say each morning, I accept what You have for me today, we accept God’s call. When we yield to Him, we have His word that He will walk with us in our calling. And enable us to do whatever His calling entails.

1 Thessalonians 5:24, Legacy Standard Bible, reminds us,

Faithful is He who calls you, who also will do it.

Walk In God’s Call

2 Timothy 1:7 says,

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

One of the speakers at the conference last week told the attendees their calling from God is stronger than their fear. For all of us, I suggest this is true. God’s call to walk with Him in righteousness and truth, loving one another, accepting the role He has for us in this life and doing all we do for His glory is stronger than our fear. And God’s specific call to each of us on any given day is stronger than the fear the enemy throws at us if we lean on our Father.

Moses told Joshua in Deuteronomy 31:8,

And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.

My prayer for each of us is that we will say yes to God’s call, whatever it is. His specific call may change over time. But one thing that will never change is His love and grace poured out on us and His faithful presence with us.

May the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ bless us today with His unspeakable joy and unexplainable peace. As we walk with our Abba, may we remember, His call is good, because He is good.

“let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Related posts you may enjoy: God’s Ways and Amen!

(Scripture: NKJV unless otherwise specified; Photos: Taken by Carolyn Thigpen, Tribble Mill Park, 2020 and 2021)