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1: Made for the Call
If youâre reading this book, itâs because you are one of the brave women who has accepted the fact that God can use you (or one of the brave male supporters of such an amazing woman). You have agreed to serve the Lord in ways that you canât even fathom at this moment. Youâve said âyesâ to a process that is unfamiliar, yet youâre ready and willing to navigate this unfamiliar territory. You have agreed to a lifestyle that may seem hard to imagine. Youâve reached a major milestone in your life of which you should feel proud! You have accepted Godâs call.
Those who are called by God have said yes to . . . God knows what! Only God knows the details and purpose for which each one of us is called. Weâve agreed to a future that looks fuzzy to us but is crystal clear to God. With all of these ambiguities and doubts, itâs amazing that you and so many women like you still have the strength and grace to say âyes!â Donât worry: you are not alone. You were made for this call!
To be called by God is to be set apart for the work of ministry in a unique way. It means that you have been appointed and anointed for a work in Godâs kingdom that will draw on your past experiences along with future training in leadership, teaching, preaching, and a host of other gifts, talents, and abilities. While everyday there are many people who accept Godâs calling, many others still wrestle with and deny the calling on their lives. Unfortunately, many of those happen to be women.
The reality for many of us women is that we know deep inside that God is calling us to lead ministries in the church, but we allow internal and external obstacles to keep us from embracing that call. Why? Some women have not seen many examples of women in ministry and cannot quite believe that this calling is for them. They may attribute masculine qualities to ministry and feel that they are not strong enough, tall enough, or donât have a voice loud enough to lead. Other women feel that who they are as mothers or young women prevents them from being fully used by God. They see people working at the church day and night and suppose that mothers couldnât possibly fill those shoes. They see married couples collaborating in leadership and assume that singles could never manage that kind of pressure or they see singles leading with a freedom they donât feel as a married person or parent.
Other women struggle with the pressures to measure up to televised, photoshopped images of women in society. No matter how old or young, whether single or married, we women constantly face insecurities, and we fear that we are not pretty enough, smart enough, thin enough, or tall enough to be accepted by others.
Once we do manage to wrap our heads around those external stressors, then we confront our internal struggles as well. We ask: Can God really use me, knowing where I have been and what Iâve been through? Considering all of my issues and weaknesses, does God really want me to lead? More fundamentally, does the Bible really endorse the notion of women in ministry? Sometimes we have our doubts. Even the most progressive women wrestle with what to make of scriptures that suggest women should remain quiet in the church or only minister to other women, not exercising authority over a man. And then we wrestle with self-esteem and acceptance issues. In effect, saying âyesâ to God also means saying âyesâ to ourselves. It means accepting that who we are is good enough for God.
These concerns may be valid. But they leave out the most important thing: that God is the One who initiates the call. Do we believe that God knows what God is doing in calling us? Do you believe? If God is the One behind the small whisper in your heart, then surely God believes that you can do what you are called to do. This means that (especially with some training) the ideas that come into your mind as you read scripture are good enough to be put into a sermon; that the advice that you give and the listening skills you have can be formalized in a counseling session; that the programs that youâve developed, the discernment you exercise in talking to people, and the prayers youâve prayed for those in need are all valid gifts that God can use in ministry leadership. Yes, God can and will use you! Yes, you were made for this calling.
Consider Sharonâs story. Sharon was always leading someone, ever since she was a child. She can recall lining her dolls up one by one and teaching them with authority at just four years old. As she grew up, Sharon always felt drawn to the church. On some Sundays, she was the only one in her household who walked down to the local church where she sat in the back and enjoyed the worship experience. She developed relationships there and eventually became involved as a junior usher. By the time she went off to college, she had served in most of the ministries in the church and enjoyed talking about God to her family and friends, most of whom assumed that she was being brainwashed by the church.
Sharon went off to college knowing that she was different. As much as she tried to fit in, she was always recognized as the âchurch girlâ and the go-to for prayer and an encouraging word. When a professor suggested that she consider seminary or a vocation in ministry, she balked, believing that she could never be qualified to serve in such an important field. Growing up, she had only seen one woman in ministry and had never felt a connection to her. Instead, she decided to follow her accounting degree all the way to a reputable firm where she was able to do church ministry on the side and make a living for herself.
After ten years of working in the accounting field, Sharon could fight her call no longer. Both internally and externally, she knew that God was calling her to serve in ministry leadership. On the inside, she could no longer fight the fact that her heart and mind were connected to God and to the church, even when she was at work. On the outside, she was tired of wrestling with the people who assumed that she was a nun or a minister because they caught a glimpse of her true passion. So one Saturday afternoon during her devotional time, she finally said âyesâ to God and to her call. She agreed to the fact that God wanted to use her to serve more fully and lead more intentionally in the context of Godâs kingdom. Beyond that, however, she had no idea what exactly she was called to do or how to start the process.
So, what exactly does it mean for you to be called by God? Ask yourself the following questions:
1. Do you sense an internal wrestling that pushes you to serve God in ways that go beyond where you are and what you are doing now?
2. Do you read scriptures thinking about how they apply to your life and the lives of others?
3. Do your friends, family, or faith community leaders affirm the work of God in your life as a minister or leader?
4. Would you serve in a capacity that requires you to share the gospel, teach the scriptures, offer spiritual guidance, and serve the people, even if you didnât get paid?
5. Do you often find yourself excelling in leadership positions at work, church, or school?
If you answered positively to the questions above, God may be calling you to serve in ministry leadership.
Biblical Observations
Fortunately for us, the Bible is full of examples of God calling the least likely and using them with great purpose and power. Whether you are tall or short, soft-spoken or loud, a homebody or party animal, there are scriptures that remind us that God can still find you and call you wherever you are.
Hagar
Hagar was an Egyptian slave girl. She was sold to Saraiâs family and was destined to fulfill someone elseâs dreams. She was overlooked, unappreciated, and underestimated. No one cared who she was. She was to be known by what she could do and her function was simple: to serve her mistress Sarai and do whatever she was asked. It was a challenging existence and just when she thought that her life would be forever abased, she was asked to do something unbelievable: she was asked to bear a child for her mistress.
Having no say in the matter, Hagar did as she was told and conceived a child with her master, Abram. She finally began to experience another side of life. Instead of being at the bottom, Hagar began to rise to the top. The one who was trained always to think less of herself finally began to think more. The Bible tells us that when she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. This âpuffed upâ sense of self eventually led to punishment and abuse from the family she knew so well. Feeling trapped and threatened, Hagar did the only thing she could to protect herself and the child growing within her: she ran away.
She ran with no clear direction or purpose. All she knew was that she needed to get away. Once she got into the desert, reality probably hit her hard. She had no food, she had no resources, and she didnât know anyone who could help her to deliver her child. Feeling lost and alone, Hagar sat down at a spring, most likely preparing to die. But it was there at the spring on the side of the road that God met her. In the midst of her despair, God called ...
