Is Our Calling Always Our Dream Job?

Have you ever wondered if our calling is always our dream job?

I heard something very interesting on a podcast just the other day. They said, “What if God’s calling for you is not your dream job?”

This posed a very interesting point of view for me. I have always believed that God’s calling for me would be something that I absolutely loved and had a huge passion for. But what if that isn’t always the case?

What if God has called you to be at a job that you don’t love, or you’re not passionate about? Could you handle it?

Is Our Calling Always Our Dream Job? This posed a very interesting point of view for me. I have always believed that God’s calling for me would be something that I absolutely loved and had a huge passion for. But what if that isn’t always the case? — PIN FOR LATER

What is a Calling?

“Our calling” tends to be one of the most confusing things to us Christians. We tend to talk about our calling and our vocation as the same thing. But what is our true calling?

As most of you know, the Apostle Paul was imprisoned for basically preaching the Gospel, yet that did not keep him from accomplishing his work. Even though Paul wasn’t physically somewhere where he could do his ministry, he continued to pursue his calling by writing letters.

Paul explains…

In one of his letters to the city of Ephesus Paul helps them understand their calling and how they should respond to it. He says:

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 4:1-6

Paul reminds the Ephesians of their calling and explains to them that as Christians we need to work together as one. But what exactly is our goal? In Ephesians here, Paul is giving advice on how we should be living out our calling.

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The Great Commission as a Calling

If we look back to the book of Matthew, Jesus himself gives us our true task when he shares The Great Commission:

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Matthew 28:19-20

Ultimately, we have all been called, as Christians, to serve the Lord and to further His Kingdom. God may have placed you at a job you may or may not love, but this doesn’t mean that you should ignore your true calling.

You may be working at a company you don’t fit in well with, or stuck in a low-level position and hoping for a promotion. Maybe you don’t know where you should be working or maybe you are already working in your dream job!

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God wants to use you where you are at. It doesn’t matter if you are the low man on the totem pole, a manager, or the big boss running the show. What does matter is that you are doing it all for Christ! You need to focus on your true calling and remember what Paul writes to the city of Colosse:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as if working for the Lord, not for men.
Colossians 3:23

So is our calling always our dream job?

Your calling is truly glorifying God and serving others in whatever work God has called you to do and wherever God has placed you currently. As you go through your day to day life, remember to live a life that clearly shows you have been made new through Christ.