Answering the Call
I was 32 at the time and maybe a year into starting a counseling center in Atlanta when my desk phone rang. For my young readers, a desk phone is what we used before we had cell phones! At the time there was no caller ID feature, so you didn’t know who was calling. I answered to find one of my favorite people on the line. He had been a mentor of mine for the last 10 years, so I was happy to take his call.
But this call was different than many of our meetings in the past. I was often the one asking him for advice, but this time he wanted advice from me! As the conversation continued, he briefly described a problem that he wasn’t sure he understood, but he knew that he needed help figuring it out so that he could fix it. I listened and wondered how he was going to solve a problem in his business if he didn’t even understand the problem. I was happy to listen but not sure why he had called me.
I listened and was certainly willing to pray for my older friend and mentor, but I did not expect what happened next. He wanted me to come to his office and help him figure out the problem and help him solve it. Not wanting to disappoint someone who had done so much for me, I agreed. Right after I hung up, I thought to myself, “What did you just agree to do?”
I had a moment of panic. I had no business training. No credibility in my friend’s industry. I feared failing at this request. But I had said yes to the call, and then I picked up my phone and made a call to another mentor and described my predicament and asked him what I should do. His response was to honor my commitment, drive down to my friend’s office, say a prayer, and start asking questions. He told me to trust my training and trust the Lord to provide the wisdom I needed to help understand and solve the problem.
I had two college degrees at the time and many more graduate hours under by belt, but I still felt unprepared because I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. My undergrad study was in Bible, and my graduate training was in counseling. All of that would help me, but I didn’t really know how. I realized in that moment that I must decide whether I believed that if God called me to this assignment, he would also provide the wisdom, strength, and courage to be obedient in a new place and in a culture of business which was not my background.
In Ezekiel 2 and 3, we learn about God’s call to Ezekiel. God called the prophet to stand before him and listen. What followed was God’s assignment for Ezekiel to go to the rebellious people of Israel and to speak to them. God told Ezekiel that whether they believed him or not, they would know that a prophet was in their midst. And that, ultimately, the outcome of what happened to the people of Israel was on them. What was on Ezekiel was to be obedient to what God told him to do.
What I found out in the situation I described above was exactly the same thing. What I have learned over the last 30 plus years is that is exactly what God expects from all of us. We are not responsible for the outcomes of the various things God calls us to in life. We are responsible for our obedience. God does the rest.
God has always engaged with mankind in this same way. Noah, Abraham, Moses, the judges, and the prophets had the same experience. God calls, God sends, and God equips. He always gives us assignments that are beyond our comfort zone. He simply wants us to trust him. When we do, he will do more than we can imagine.
Just as Jesus called his first disciples and sent them out after his resurrection, he calls us today to be obedient in sharing the good news with others. He can and will do that through us in our businesses, our friendships, and in our communities.
In John 20:21, Jesus told his disciples that he had given them his peace and now was sending them out into the world just as God had sent Jesus into the world. The disciples had no idea how God would accomplish his mission through them. And we have no idea how he will use us, either. But God promised us that he would be with us, would guide us by his Spirit, and give us the boldness to speak to others of his love. Just like with Ezekiel, we are not responsible for when, how, or if others receive God’s message. We are simply responsible for passing the love of Jesus to others through words and actions.
And yes, God did supply everything I needed for the assignment I was given when I accepted the call long ago. And he will do the same thing for you with whatever assignment you receive today.
Father, we marvel at how you have used your children throughout history to accomplish your work of renewal, restoration, and redemption. Thank you for Jesus, who saves us and calls us to share the good news with others. Today, we commit to sharing your message wherever you call us. Increase our faith to trust you, even when things look impossible. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Ezekiel 2:1-10, 3:1-27; John 20:21 ESV
Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash
To receive daily posts delivered directly to your inbox, complete the form at the bottom of our home page.
