Irrevocable

            Have you ever questioned God’s call on your life?

            Maybe you felt a tug to teach Sunday school, help out with the youth or sing in the choir. Before you ever got involved, you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt the Lord asked you to do it. But lately, because of some bumps in the road, you’re not so sure anymore, and you’re running in the opposite direction.

            I’m guilty of wearing my running shoes, what about you?

            In 2005, I felt a strong calling from God to minister to women. An unusual directive in light of the fact I’d always worked in a man’s world, first as a television sportscaster, then later in a job at an airport.  That’s one of the reasons I knew this pull to women’s ministry was from the Lord. He infused me with a love for women and I wanted to help them in any way I could.

            So for about eight years, first leading the ladies at the church, then through the Pearls of Promise ministry outside the church, I had a desire to teach women how to overcome the dysfunction in their past or current lives. I had grown up in a difficult childhood and it was my heart to share how the love and strength of Christ helped me to overcome and how it can provide women freedom from the past.

            But after a busy and fruitful ministry season in 2013, there was a personnel shakeup in Pearls of Promise. After that, things slowed down to a halt and several friends told me not to worry; God wanted me to rest to prepare me for what was ahead. I wondered if that was really it.

            I questioned my call. How could this happen? Did God change his mind? Did he remove his blessing?

            Then my husband lost his job, so I began to believe I needed to go back to work in the marketplace and put the ministry aside. The key phrase here is I began to believe. This is not what the Lord intended.

            So I ran after full-time work and God began to show me I was running in the wrong direction.  After a command to stop and spend time at his feet in his Word, one of the first verses that popped off the page was Romans 11:29: “God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.”

            The Webster Dictionary definition for irrevocable is: “not possible to revoke.” The definition of “revoke” is to” to officially cancel the power or effect of.”

            So putting it together, It is impossible to cancel the power or effect of God’s call.

            Early in the morning, snuggled in my blanket, my father was lovingly telling me my call to minister to women had not changed. The call I received in 2005 was the same in 2014. Running away to a full-time job was not the answer. Running back to the loving arms of God was. The call to reach women through the Pearls of Promise ministry was impossible to cancel and God made that clear to me. I needed to trust him with our finances and that he’d provide for the ministry. 

            Praise the Lord for his clear direction and the power of his call.

            Are you discouraged about where you are serving? Are you running the opposite direction of God’s call on your life because it’s gotten too tough and sometimes unfair?

            Remember, his calling on your life is irrevocable. If you are musician, there’s a reason you hear the voice of God through the notes you play.  If you love to sing, it’s not a fluke that worship music sends chills down your spine when you participate in song. If you teach, then watching someone understand a new concept probably thrills you. It’s in your DNA, designed by God.

            The difficulties you are facing may be God’s way of forcing you to re-center. The Lord may want to teach you a new, improved way to facilitate the call he’s placed on your life. That’s what has happened to me and I’m so happy I didn’t make a terrible mistake by giving up on the dream of reaching women for Christ.

            So don’t run away from the God’s call on your life. The Lord may package it in different ways throughout your years but no matter what, it’s what your father in heaven wants you to do. 

            Don’t get discouraged.

            Just like your call, the love of God is also irrevocable and many times through his loving guidance, the Lord will put you back on track when you’re headed the wrong way.

            It’s time to put the running shoes away.