4 STEPS TO TAKE IF YOU SENSE GOD’S CALL TO MISSIONS
Step 1: Understand what constitutes a missionary call
Is it a strong inner feeling? A burning bush experience? Common but misguided notions can confuse and hinder your discernment of God’s calling. Learn more in these two articles with links at the end— “The Missionary Call—What Inspires, Informs, & Confirms it” and “To Know His Will”.
Step 2: Seek confirmation
Hearing God clearly, honest soul searching, and wise counsel from the Body of Christ will help you discern your call and persevere in times of uncertainty and testing.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
How has God been speaking to you? When you shared your missions calling with your spiritual mentor (e.g. pastor, lay leader) or a close friend, how did they respond?
What are some concerns that may hinder or test your obedience to God’s call? Who could give you counsel?
Who can you invite to pray with you to confirm your call?
Step 3: Count the cost
The rich young ruler in Mark 10:17-22 did not have the faith to leave the life he knew and carefully built to follow Jesus. Counting the cost is a part of confirming the call.
Three common areas of concern and testing, based on Luke 14:16-20, have to do with:
1. Material security
What could you be giving up financially? How important is financial security to you?
Do you fear that your children’s education and opportunities for success will be compromised?
Will you be able to care and provide for your aging parents?
2. Personal career
How might your (and/or your spouse’s) current career be compromised?
When you return from overseas, would you be employable? Could you find a job that will support your family?
3. Relationships
If you are single, would you find a life partner on the mission field? Is your significant other aligned with your missionary calling?
How would your parents and children feel about your moving overseas? How would they be impacted?
Do you believe that God’s grace is sufficient? Can He be trusted? In the face of the missionary call, these questions challenge our faith and commitment to God.
There are times when your decision to obey God goes against the tide and norms of society and culture. Opposition, objections, and obstacles are to be expected (John 15:18-19; 1 Peter 4:12). How much more when you are called to bring the gospel to where Christ is little known (Ephesians 6:11-12)!
Step 4: Accept the challenge
But Jesus also promises to those who count the cost and choose to obey, “With man this is impossible, but not with God…Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first” (Mark 10:27, 29-31).
Accepting God’s call is putting one foot in front of the other to begin your adventure of faith.
It was as the priests carrying the ark stepped into the rushing waters of the Jordan River that it parted for the Israelites to cross on dry ground (Joshua 3:14-17). It was as the Israelites completed circling the walls of Jericho for the seventh time on the seventh day, blowing their trumpets and shouting, that the walls came down (Joshua 6:12-16,20). All things are possible with God.
God did not only give us stories from Scripture about how He rewards obedience. Today, many others have accepted the challenge, stepped out in faith, and proven Him trustworthy.
Mitch and Zoe’s yes to God is one such story. Check out these links:
Missionary Call—What Inspires, Informs, & Confirms It
Mitch & Zoe’s Story—Called & Aligned, Tested & Confirmed