Discerning calling is probably one of the top desires for many christians. Ability does not necessitate calling. We are all talented in different ways and often times our gifts play a large part in the execution of our calling, but the calling that God places on our lives may not involve every skill that we possess. You might be a talented singer yet be called to be a doctor. Your calling may be to work with special needs children even though you have skills in computer programming.

This idea is something I’ve been digging into lately in my own life. I have been told by a number of people that discerning calling happens where passions, talents and affirmation from others intersect. So being told that we are good at something does not make it our calling any more than being passionate about it does. If someone is a skilled thief, that does not mean it is their life’s calling to steal from others. That may be a silly example because we would likely agree that stealing is wrong, but it illustrates the point that who we are is not about what we can do. I am skilled in creative stage and lighting design as well as web design, but that does not mean those things are my life’s calling from God.

We engaged in an exercise of affirmation at small group this past week. It was not about the vocational things we do well or are gifted at, but about Spiritual Gifting. I was blown away and humbled by what was said of me:

• Pastor-Teacher
• Helper
• Faith
• Service
• Wisdom
• Knowledge
• Hospitality
• Discernment
• Leadership
• Mercy
• Encouragement

As I look at that list, I can see where some of my passions and talents line up well, but I am at a place in my life where I feel stuck between what I currently do and what my calling is. Knowing that calling is affirmed by others, I have sought guidance from peers, elders, pastors and mentors. Through these meetings, I started thinking about possibilities that I hadn’t in the past, but nothing was completely clicking with me. I was beginning to listen more to what others were saying and neglecting the weight of my passions and talents.

In one of these meetings, I was asked what I see myself doing regardless of what others have said. If passion and/or talent alone do not define who we are and God’s calling on our lives, why would affirmations from others be the quintessence of direction for our lives? We cannot rely on what others see in us any more than we can rely on passion or talent when discerning calling.

While it may seem like the perfect equation to discern your calling, passion plus talent plus affirmation does not necessarily equal calling. These three variables are only tools to help discern calling. The ultimate authority is God Himself. We must first recognize His sovereignty and allow Him to speak to us; passion, talent and affirmation are tools that can help discern calling after we are already hearing from God. Discerning calling starts with God, not us.