Our purpose and calling actually go hand in hand. In fact both are so intertwined that it makes it difficult to differentiate. I am aware that there are so many different explanations or opinions of purpose and calling, nevertheless, I shall attempt to explain it to you the way the Lord revealed it to me when I asked Him in the early days of my journey with Him.

How Do I Know My Purpose?

When I first began my intimate walk with God, I cried out to Him in prayer asking Him to reveal to me my purpose. Lord, what is my purpose? I asked. What have you created me to do? I want to be like those who know what You want them to do, who are walking in their purpose. I don’t want to live life not knowing what I am supposed to be doing.

After several days of circling this prayer request to God, He finally answered. Let me stop right here to tell you this – you got to be persistent in prayer! The answer may not come the moment you pray but you must persist until it comes! Prayer is our way of communicating to God what we need, so it makes no sense to give up praying before you get your request answered. Right? Right!

Okay now back to what I was saying! The Holy Spirit revealed to me that my purpose, our purpose as God’s creation is to bring God glory. And we do this by serving Him and doing what He has ordained or called or assigned for us to do. (See, this is the reason I said purpose and calling are intertwined).

Here are a few scriptures that explain it better:

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. I Peter 2:9

Our purpose is to declare the praises of God, to serve Him and worship Him. Our purpose is to do whatever it requires to bring glory to God. If you read through several scriptures in the bible starting with Genesis to Exodus to Leviticus and beyond, you will find that the reason God chose the children of Israel, the reason He set them apart was for one reason and one reason only, to display His glory. (God does not play about that). In Isaiah 42:8, the bible tells us there that God will not share His glory with anyone else. It says,

“I am the Lord; that is My name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols.”

Colossians 1:16 tells us that

“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.”

And Ephesians 2:10 says,

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Everything in the world, rather in this universe was created for God and by God to declare His glory. When you get a chance, take the time to read Psalms 19:1-6. This verse in the bible tells of how the heavens proclaim the glory of God and the skies display His craftsmanship. It helps us understand how a thing like the sun and the sky can, without speaking a word, display God’s glory, how much more you and I who are made in His own image and likeness (see Genesis 1: 26, 27).

So, what is your purpose? Your purpose is to glorify the Lord your God on this earth. You are to bring Him glory in ALL that you do.

Now, let’s talk about our calling.

How Do I Know My Calling?

Your calling is your God-given assignment. The reason most of us don’t know our calling is because we are expecting it to be only ministry related; we expect that it must have something to do with preaching or teaching the Word, or working with or for a church. Your calling is simply your “position” at the moment. I say at the moment because sometimes it can change depending on the season you are in. Your calling could range from being a wife, or a mother, friend, employee, employer, stay at home wife, mother or husband. Your calling could be to be a teacher this season and next season an accountant. Your calling could be to a lawyer and a pastor at the same time.

Hence your calling could be anything, but the main idea is that whatever it is, in it and through it, you must bring glory to God who has called you and assigned you to that position. You must in that calling, declare praises to God because you are actually serving Him by serving in that calling. That’s why Colossian 3: 23, 24 says,

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters… It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Each one of us is called to do something that will help us fulfill our purpose in bringing glory to God. Get it? It is through our calling which could be our career, job, parenting, marriage, ministry, etc. that we live out our purpose.

Subsequently the next time you go to work, or parent, or be a listening ear to a friend, keep in mind that you are actually operating in a dimension of your calling or assignment from God. Therefore, in EVERYTHING you do, you should be like the Apostle Paul in the book of Philippians 3:14 and “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus,” (keyword: press on, even when it’s difficult) and when we do that, then we know that in all things God will work for our good because we love Him, and have been called according to His purpose (see Romans 8:28).

So, what is your calling? Your calling is whatever God has assigned you to be in this season.

Many of us try to hide from our purpose or our calling for one reason or the other, and instead do our own thing but remember the bible says,

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21

So, until next time, remember, keep your hope in God for He loves you so very much and has promised to never leave you nor forsake you!