When God first gives you the inkling of something new, a calling, there’s an air of excitement about it.  We know in the back of our head that it might be hard, but there’s this romantic notion of overcoming that hard thing and being “successful” for the Kingdom.

Fast forward some months and years and suddenly you find yourself in the midst of persecution and lost relationships and financial challenges and the lovely feelings fade quickly.    

Six years ago we said yes to the Lord and established The Company.  If all the challenges we’ve faced (and will face) would have been revealed ahead of time, I don’t think I could have handled it.  Honestly, I’m not even sure I would have said yes.

But God has walked us through every single moment of every single thing that has happened and He will do the same for you.

If you’re on the edge of your calling, deciding whether or not to say yes to the Lord, be encouraged that even though you will walk through the hard things it doesn’t mean you’ve failed.  

I remember a specific moment in which it felt and looked like our ministry was crumbling beneath us.  Our calling was in question, and I was so exhausted that the thought of going back to “normal life” was looking better and better.  We spent some time wrestling through these feelings in prayer and God reminded us that we were meant to do this. We were called to start a school for writers that was going to impact nations, and because of that reminder we made a decision that no matter what, we would stick it out.  Even if we had one student, didn’t get a paycheck, and nobody liked us we would keep saying yes to creating space to encourage and teach writers.

Many times since then I have had to come back to that line in the sand.  I remember the hardships, but more often I remember the mission and I can choose to be obedient even when it gets challenging.  

We live in a day in which we only see the highlight reels of others’ lives.  We see writers, influencers, and ministers speaking in stadiums, selling thousands of copies, and rubbing shoulders with incredible people.  What we don’t see are the hardships and burdens and sacrifices made to bring them into a place of great authority.  

Because we only see other’s highlights, when we step into our writing career or ministry, we expect it all to work out with a shiny red bow on top. I know in the beginning of our ministry I had a huge faith that it was just going to happen. I know it’s silly, but I also know I’m not the only one who has felt discouraged when the thing I’m supposed to do is actually a lot of work.  

There are very few stories of someone stepping into a huge calling without a lot of trials. Paul was shipwrecked, David made grave moral mistakes, Moses got so annoyed with complainers that he hit the rock instead of speaking to it, John the Baptist was beheaded, and many apostles were imprisoned and tortured for their testimony of Christ. At any point they could have shrunk back from their calling, but they remained confident in what God told them to do, even when it hurt.  

In all of the challenges you face you have to decide “Am I still going to say yes to the Lord? Do I still believe God called me to this?” If you know that answer to be yes, then the best place to be, despite all of the hardships, is right where God is calling you to be.  

As the writers of Hebrews said, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” (10:23) 

God is faithful. Trust him with your call.

Follow Melissa at SimplyOneLife.org

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