“That was the worst sermon you ever preached. Why are you even here? Just go back to Nashville.”
It’s true. I heard those words.
It happened when Christina and I were interviewing at Beulah Alliance Church this last year. As I shared last week, God had unsettled our hearts and led us to the point where we knew our next right thing was to go up to Edmonton and interview.
Now whether coming back to Beulah was just an opportunity or a calling, we weren’t certain of. All we knew was that the next right thing was to go to Edmonton. So that’s what we did. With an open heart and a deep desire to live our lives wholeheartedly for God—wherever, whenever, and doing whatever—we hopped on a plane and flew to Edmonton. After all, for as long as I can remember, this has been our family motto: “Lord, here I am. Lord, here we are.”
So we went. And it went well.
Thursday. Friday. Saturday. Interviews. Meet and greets. Meals. Everything went well. Incredibly well. Honestly, I don’t know if I could’ve planned it any better. So clearly this meant that God was saying yes, right? That He was opening up the opportunity for us to come back and help lead Beulah to accomplish its vision to reach 1% of greater Edmonton for Christ…right?
Isn’t that how God leads?
Didn’t someone say that a lack of obstacles is another sign for God’s leading? That if you’re in God’s plan, no man can be against you?
I hope you’re shaking your head and vehemently disagreeing with me because that last paragraph was 100% sarcasm.
In the Bible we see that trials and opposition are actually a good thing—and to some extent a matter of joy—because it’s one of the ways that God shapes our faith and matures us (James 1:2-4). We see this all throughout the Scriptures with Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, Paul, and the disciples.
But if you look at it the other way, the presence of opposition doesn’t necessarily equate to God’s leading either.
So what is it? How does God lead?!
Discernment is not random, but it’s not science either. It’s a bit like watching an experienced musician play jazz. They’re not randomly hitting notes, nor are they playing from a blank slate. Instead, being well informed by a deep knowledge of theory, scales, and a large repertoire of music, they start every rehearsal and concert from a place of familiarity and experience.
In the same way, discerning God’s leading is not about randomly putting together a pros/cons list, or just going whatever direction you want to go—hoping that God will bless it. Instead, being well informed by a deep Biblical knowledge of how God has directed his people in the past, that He is a good Father, and that God is for us and not against us, we can approach every situation from a place of familiarity and experience.
And that’s when I heard those words.
After an incredible three days of interviewing and connecting with the staff team at Beulah, it was time for the first weekend service. It was Saturday night, and I was ready. It was the week before Easter, and I was preaching on the fact that Jesus is not only our Saviour, but that He is our King, which means that there is a heavenly kingdom, an anti-kingdom, and citizens on both sides.
And just as I was finishing up the sermon and getting ready to close, I heard those words, “That was the worst sermon you ever preached. Why are you even here? Just go back to Nashville.”
No, it wasn’t from the worship team and no one was heckling me either. Those were the words I heard in my head.
I wish I knew then, what I discovered a couple hours later, but I didn’t. Instead of immediately recognizing those words as flaming arrows from the evil one (Eph 6:16), I just heard them…and unfortunately, I believed them.
There’s a reason biblical community is a critical component to discernment and decision making.
It’s because we all have blind spots! And since it’s the same Holy Spirit that indwells all believers, God will often speak through someone else if your ears are plugged or blinders are up. So stop trying to make decisions in isolation. There’s a word for people who do that, and it’s not “wise.”
After the service ended, Christina and I went out to dinner with two of the pastors (and their significant others). And frankly, after hearing what I heard at the end of the service, I didn’t want to. I just wanted to curl up into a ball and go back to Nashville, but we weren’t about to bail during this candidating weekend. So we went.
After finishing up dinner, I decided to turn the table on the interview and ask everyone to share their thoughts on the spiritual state of Beulah and Edmonton. And that’s when it happened. Like blinders being lifted off of a horse, or a cloak coming off of my head, I finally recognized that those words weren’t true. That instead, the words I heard at the end of the sermon were actually lies from the evil one. And guess what? It’s all because of Biblical community! God spoke to and through these couples, to help me see what was really going on.
In that moment, I felt like a huge weight had lifted off of my shoulders. So after this revelation, Christina and I went back to the hotel and continued praying. We were praying for Beulah, for Edmonton, and for his divine leading—essentially, whatever the Holy Spirit was prompting us to pray for.
We were trying to figure out whether this was merely a good opportunity for ministry, or if it was a calling? His calling upon our lives? And that’s when God broke our hearts.
Opportunities and Callings
When discerning and making big decisions, I’ve learned that there’s a difference between an opportunity and a calling. I wish I could present the differences in a chart, but that would seem too exact. It would seem as if I were some expert on the matter, but the fact is I’m not. I’m learning like you are. So here are a few of my thoughts on the differences.
When you’re discerning your next step, recognize that there’s a subtle difference between a good opportunity and a God calling. If it’s an opportunity, you will likely be able to see yourself doing it, or doing something else. Opportunities are abundant, and sometimes when making a decision, it will honestly come down to one opportunity or another—the difference between good and good. In those situations, you need to saturate yourself in prayer and the Scriptures, use wisdom, and listen to the advice of others who love you and love God because sometimes they may see something you don’t. (There’s a reason blind spots are called blind spots. You can’t see them, but others can.) But at the end of it all, there are times when you just need to make the call and walk in it—one step at a time.
However, there are other times where, as you are placing yourself at the foot of the cross, God will break your heart and you won’t be able to see yourself doing anything else. Even if it doesn’t make sense, you can’t not do it. Even if you feel inadequate for the task, you are drawn toward it. That’s a sign of a calling, but it’s important to recognize that timing is a different matter.
God may call you to something, but that doesn’t always mean it’s immediate. After God called Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, and Paul to a task, they all had to wait. It wasn’t instant by any means.
And that’s what happened on that Saturday night. As Christina and I were placing ourselves at the foot of the cross, meditating on the Scriptures, praying, worshipping, and seeking God’s face, He broke our hearts for Edmonton and for Beulah. That night, we sensed God was saying that this is where He wanted us. That this was the next right thing. And that everything we had learned and done in life was leading us to this next appointment.
So, here we are. Several months later, we’re now back in Edmonton, more excited than ever to help lead Beulah to accomplish its vision to reach 1% of greater Edmonton for Christ.
And it’s not because this is some opportunity. No, it’s because this is a calling—God’s calling on our lives.
So what?
I love what Frederick Buechner says, ““The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
If, after reading this article, you don’t feel like you are working in your calling, don’t quit! Instead, be faithful where you’re at, do your best, serve others as if you’re serving Jesus, and continue to seek His face through reading the Bible, prayer, and the spiritual disciplines because God wants the best for you.
God is a good Father. He is for you and not against you. He will lead you. He will go before you. And He will make a way for you.
Seek first His Kingdom and trust His timing.
If you don’t believe me, spend some time reading these passages from the Bible:
- Luke 11
- Romans 8
- Matthew 6
- Proverbs 3