When calling isn't what you expected

What do you want to be when you grow up? I’d sit with wide-eyed wonder when I was a little girl dreaming of fulfilling God’s plan for my life. I grew up in the church––attending summer church camps and purity conferences on the regular. At a young age, I received the call for ministry and began to develop a passion for worship leading.

From piano lessons to songwriting workshops, I became quickly fascinated with the idea of leading people––from all walks of life––into a deeper walk with Christ through the power of worship. It quickly became my identity, and I couldn’t see myself without that element of my life. When I was asked the question what career I’d want to pursue, worship leading was my go-to… my comfort zone, if you will.

It’s crazy how we can quickly become attached to what we believe our calling is. We mistake our talents for identity and suddenly find fulfillment in our spiritual gifts rather than seeking out fulfillment in God who granted us these talents.

As I walked into my freshman year of college at a ministry-centered university, the Lord began to close doors of opportunity within that realm of my life. Left feeling confused and devastated, I began to wonder if I had missed my calling. Where was my place in the church? And if I didn’t have a place in the church, how would I live out my God-given purpose?

Pin it

There’s a common misconception oftentimes we experience that say we have to work for a church or for a ministry in order to make a difference for the kingdom of God. However, what if we are the church for those who wouldn’t dare step inside the church building? In Hebrews 12:1, the Apostle Paul shares with us, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…”

The race. Your race. You have a race before you… one that is unique and intentionally crafted by God for heavenly purposes. What does that mean? It means that your 9-to-5 corporate job is not a mistake. It means God is at work in your life through the career you find yourself in.

We are carriers of the message of hope, and the Gospel will never be limited to just the four walls of our local churches. The heart of Christ is freedom and restoration for a fallen and broken society––ehem, myself included in that reality. Whether you are a life-saving doctor, a trail-blazing CEO, a dedicated soccer mom or hard-working college student, God can and wants to use you right in the field you’re in to be light and share Jesus with the people around you.

No matter what career we decide to pursue in this life, my prayer is that we use every effort in our being to bring glory to our Heavenly Father through it all. The church is a beautiful part of our faith––hello community! It was never meant to limit us.

Ever wake up dreading to go to work while struggling to find purpose in your season? *Hands raise everywhere.* Friend, we are not alone and all have experienced this doubting at one point or another. The Gospel is so powerful that we as carriers of Light are called to make impact through our schools, in courthouses, surgery rooms, and in our office spaces.

You never know what impact your life is making through the simplicity of being consistent in the mission to saving souls for Christ.
 

Victoria Bardega

Victoria Bardega is a content creator based out of central Florida who is passionate about building community. She finished her bachelor of science in journalism/public relations at Southeastern University and works in strategic marketing with over 100+ churches in the United States. When she's not photographing a love story or writing lifestyle pieces, she's filling up the pages of her passport and aggressively seeking laugh lines.