Our desire to receive a calling from the Lord when facing a big faith decision, in some ways, comes from a good place. It comes from a desire to be certain of God’s will, to not stray from obedience and to make the best decision possible.
If we should think that God calls people today through specific dreams, revelations or circumstances, we also need to assume that God’s call to us comes after a question that we ask him. A calling usually comes after a question. We may ask God “Should I move to this new place?” or “Should I marry this man or this woman?” or “Should I take this job?”.
Despite this we often complain that God hasn’t given us any calling or affirmation. In our circumstances, God seems silent. He hasn’t spoken us in our dreams. No voice or instruction is heard. But could it be that we are asking the wrong question?
In Peter’s life he asked Jesus many questions, but one of the most profound questions was in a boat on the sea of Galilee.
‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’
While this was not an explicit question, what Peter was asking was for Jesus to reveal himself to him. The questions we often ask are very different from Peter’s.
While we expect God to accommodate our insecurities by sharing with us his secret plan, all that Peter wants is simply to know Jesus. He just wants Jesus to be revealed to him. Peter’s question is a question asked by a genuine God-seeker.
In response, he receives a calling.
‘Come,’ he said.’
God may be silent in your life today, because you are preoccupied with the wrong questions. Instead of asking God to make our circumstances clear, why not ask God to reveal Himself? Instead of asking whether you should go on a One Year Challenge, perhaps you could ask the following questions:
- What is God’s heart for the world?
- Am I doing everything I can to obey the Great Commission?
- Jesus, where do you want me to meet you next?
Or we could even ask what Peter asked:
Lord if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.
The answers may vary, but the calling will be clear. That God desires us to make disciples of all nations. Don’t despair if God hasn’t made it clear yet! Maybe God has already made it clear, instead maybe we are not asking the right questions!
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