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Does Your Career Follow Your Calling?

by Jonathan R Taylor

So, if you're in a job or career you hate, make sure you don't simply abandon your calling altogether. If your calling

When many people think of the word "calling", they often associate it with going into the mission field, or serving in the ministry as a pastor. But in reality your calling is whatever profession God has called you into. Your Calling or Vocation is the broad picture and can be made up of any number of different careers.

When I first started my career after college, I really wanted to help others as a counselor or teacher in some type of profession. I had worked in youth camps throughout my time in college so naturally I thought that becoming a youth counselor was where I could best fulfill that calling. I took a job as a probation counselor working with adolescents who had committed misdemeanor crimes. But after two years, I was completely burned out from working with kids who in many cases had no desire to change their lives.

I was afraid of making a career change for a number of reasons. But one of the biggest reasons may have been the question, "But isn't this what God called me into?" I found out that the answer was both yes and no. Yes, I should use my personality and abilities to help others, but NO, this is not the job to do it in.

I realized that one of the biggest frustrations in working as a probation counselor was the attitude of kids who had no desire to change in the first place. So, I redirected my calling into the world of business as a consultant, sales professional, and business/career coach.

Now, I'm fulfilling my calling through a new career vehicle. I'm able to help others who want to be helped through career and business coaching. The result - I love what I'm doing now. Not only that, but I've made a much larger income in the process, am able to work out of my office at home when I'm not traveling, and have a lot of flexible time with my family.

So, if you're in a job or career you hate, make sure you don't simply abandon your calling altogether. If your calling is to "help reduce suffering in the world" and you work as a nurse, understand that you're not stuck as a nurse forever. You can redirect anytime into any number of careers that fulfill that calling.

"Where the spirit does not work with the hand there is no art" - Leonardo da Vinci

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