 |
| Image from "The Story of Esther and Tony" on YouTube. |
Every organization (whether it's a tech company, non-profit, or even school) has a focus, a niche in the world. A company can exist solely by making excellent wireless routers. Charities often have one special target groups they help. Prep schools that train only one discipline abound in the world.
My focus for this post is to help you find your niche in the world. I'm also writing in a decidedly Christian fashion. So in Christian terms, I want to help you find your calling in life. And I want to do it with three simple questions.
1. What do you enjoy doing?
I believe that every human being is uniquely created by God. Psalm 139:14 says, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."
Everybody has something wonderful that they are passionate about, that they enjoy doing. It could be basketball, food, politics, home decorations, salmon fishing, or any other thing imaginable. You know what your passion is when you can talk seemingly endlessly on that particular topic.
Some people get tremendous joy from dancing, others from playing video games, yet others from organizing files. Your passion is one thing that makes you unique. It could be an indication of what you should be doing in life.
A creator God would not create you just to put you on the earth and bore you to death with something you absolutely despise doing. Either He made a mistake in creation or you are doing something wrong. Hint: It's probably the latter.
2. What are you good at doing?
Say you enjoy singing. Does that mean you should sing? Not exactly. Just because someone enjoys one thing does not mean they should do that thing.
I should know, I used to think I could be a singer. My musician wife changed that view. We've all heard that man/woman on TV who thinks they are Celine Dion when in fact their screeching actually damages our ears.
You see, "following your heart" is bad advice if taken on its own. Romans 12:6 says, "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them." We all have different gifts (aka skills) that sets us apart from other people.
Yes, we are to follow our heart's passions. However, is God such a horrible craftsman that he would give you a passion but then not the skills to accomplish it?
So when your passions and your skills don't match, try to broaden it. For example, maybe it's not singing that you enjoy, maybe it's the performing arts, maybe it's drama. Maybe all this time you thought singing was the only or best way to perform. But there are other ways, ways that may fit you better! Explore them.
Similarly, your calling is definitely something you are good at, it just may be broader than you think.
3. What are you currently doing?
I sometimes hear people talk about not being able to do what they enjoy doing or what they are good at doing, that they're stuck in a dead-end job. But those same people are not taking steps to change it. What they are currently doing is complaining and coasting through life. They are not working on fulfilling their calling.
Say you enjoy drama and are good at it. You've found your career as a Hollywood lead actor/actress? Hold on. How much time do you spend practicing every day? Have you looked into acting coaches? How many books have you read about the performing arts? What changes would you need to make in your daily routine to improve yourself? Do some hobbies need to be cut?
If it's not a common career, have you done research to find organizations that do exactly what you want to do? Will this pay the bills or do you need to supplement your income some other way? Tent-making is still a valid profession (cf. Acts 18:3).
2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed"
My wife (who is an amazing pianist), when she was in high school, spent 7 hours a day practicing on the piano. This is in addition to other homework and school. She had to cut a lot of things out in life in order to do what she does today.
What you do now prepares you for what you are called to do in the future. If you are doing nothing now, be prepared for a whole lot of nothing in the future.
If you still got nothing
Or perhaps you've read through all that and still don't know what your calling is. My advice? Go through these questions with someone who knows you. Take your time. Develop yourself anyway you can. Also, if you are unemployed, get a job anywhere doing anything. You can reflect on the 3 questions as you work that job. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 says, "If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat."
