THE JOURNEY TO OUR CALLING
Sometimes we lose our way.
As Believers, when we first hear God’s call to do or be something more significant, it feels so right. More times than not, a call from God is selfless and centred on eternal perspectives.
Sure, looking down the road, the calling is always a little foggy, but we know the destination is there in the distance. It’s such an exciting time in our Christian walk, but challenging and frightening at the same time.
Then the road forks.
We’ve been driving along, gaining miles by following the Spirit’s leading, but then we become our own roadblock. And by we, I mean our insecurities, our impure motives and our sinful desires. It’s frustrating.
Thankfully, God is faithful to bring us back and send us on our way again. It may be a week, it may be a year (hopefully not a decade). Eventually God always brings us to our senses.
That’s been my journey.
At the beginning of this whole blogging thing, it was a pure calling; a clear destination. I was serving in youth ministry and I really felt like God wanted me to express my walk with Him and my ministry through writing. I was supposed to start a blog.
Some of you will remember those early days and “QuietMorningsWithHim.com“. They were early mornings spent with my Bible, an empty post template and my Heavenly Father. It was pure and I experienced incredible growth.
The journey continued.
As I travelled down the road, the fog cleared more and more. The destination (the vision of my calling) became clear. It took shape in the form of a personal mission statement.
“Serving Christ by cultivating biblical leadership through writing, equipping and communications.”
The destination was clear. God wanted me to help other Believers reach their leadership potential within their areas of gifting and ministry. The clarity was invigorating. I felt like I had arrived; if only momentary.
But then the fog returned.
It’s embarrassing to admit now, but my calling was replaced with status. I started to worry about what people thought of me, instead of what God had called me to achieve and become.
Specifically, this all took place within the relationship between my ministry and my writing. These two, once connected pieces, began to separate. I continued to feel the blessing and growth of my ministry career, but I started to place far too much personal value on things like blog stats and follower-counts.
Then my blog took on a new face.
And it wasn’t a good one. Literally, the new face was my face at JeremyNortonBlog.com. Little did I know, I had lost my way. I started to leave the destination and venture down a gravel road.
I started reading too many ‘how to blog better‘ articles and books. Christ still had my ministry but I had given away my writing. I allowed some expert bloggers to have a greater influence on my call than Jesus.
It’s sad. I know.
The Journey Back to My Calling
Over the past few months, really since moving to the Yukon; God has been placing strong conviction on my heart. This conviction is to return to His original call for my blog, and my writing as a whole.
You likely noticed immediately that the design is completely different from the last time you read one of my posts. That’s on purpose.
Coming Back to My Calling
God has brought me back to my original destination; my personal mission statement. But this time, without the self promotion.
But why all the green? In short, green represents growth. Green represents the cultivation of growth. And God has called me to cultivate growth; challenging myself and others to embrace and develop Biblical leadership.
www.LeadBiblically.com
And so, I have changed the blog, the web address, my social media outlets and my email address (jeremy@leadbiblically.com). Please pray that God keeps me headed in the right direction this time around, and please throw out a roadblock if I start to take a wrong turn.
It’s been a difficult journey, but I’m back to my calling.
Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts
Have you ever journeyed away from your calling? If so, how did God bring you back to your destination?
Please comment below or share your answer on Facebook or Twitter.
Jeremy, thank you for your bravery in sharing your struggle. It’s so true that when we sign on to help someone else with a project (including the Lord), often times we get caught up in our role to the point where it takes on a life of it’s own. In our excitement to help, we butt in and take over a project, running off in another direction with our own great ideas; forgetting the original intention of the plan and whose plan we’re helping to realize in the first place. I’m guilty of it too. Not just to Him, but to other people as well. It’s our humanity shining through. Sometimes, I have asked God, “does it have to shine as bright and loudly as a lighthouse?”, but then I remember that lighthouses are there to help others find their way and keep from crashing on the rocks, so perhaps some good will come of it. Then, I can feel Him give me a hug and an encouraging smile with the message, “Come on, we’ve got stuff to do.”
Please keep writing.
Thanks for your comment Shelley. And thanks for taking the time to read this post. I love the imagery that you paint at the end of your comment; a Father with a hug and a smile, “Come on, we’ve got stuff to do.” I needed that! Thank you.
Good on you for being honest and keeping yourself open to God’s guidance. I hope you have good men around you who share your passion and to help you stay true.
There is a lot of fog in the body these days and I have found the past number of years quite challenging / discouraging. Sorry I don’t have a success story to share at this time. I’m just a member serving in an Elder position. Much is going on at many levels. Direction is not clear and I am still unsure of my role. I know God is still in control regardless of what we do. I just pray we will hear Him and follow.
Thanks for the encouragement
David
Thanks for the encouragement Dave. Thank you for reading my writing. Reading your comment, I want you to know that I’m throwing up a prayer for you this morning friend. May God bless you with Spirit-driven discernment and wisdom as you strive toward Biblical leadership within your life and ministry. May God grant you the peace and ability to place into His hands what you can not influence. May God give you friends to come along side and lift you up with encouragement; truly placing courage into you. Be well brother.