A lot of people ask me the question “how did you know you were supposed to be a missionary?”. They are usually asking this question not just out of curiosity but from a place of consideration. Many of them are wondering if they too are called.
I’ve also been at this missionary thing long enough now (10 years!) that I have also seen several missionaries leave for the foreign mission field only to find out that it wasn’t their cup of tea after all. Every circumstance is unique, but I do think some of these were the result of a lack of due diligence.
So how can you know if God is calling you into ministry?
Delight in the Lord
Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
First of all, the Bible very teaches that God will give us the desires He wants us to have. In short, if you are spending ample time with the Lord, and you have a desire to serve as a missionary, that’s sort of the first box checked off. If you know you really aren’t spending daily time walking and talking with the Lord, then you better tamper your excitement about missions and seek the Lord first.
Seek Counsel
Without counsel, plans go awry,
But in the multitude of counselors they are established. Proverbs 15:22
Second, God’s Word tells us that there is wisdom in a multitude of counselors. Have you talked to spiritual leaders in your life about your desire to be in missions? Your pastor is in your life for a reason. He can even see things about your life that maybe you can’t. Your spiritual mentors are there to help guide you into God’s will for your life.
When I take my kids bowling, we ask for the lane bumpers to help the game go a little smoother. It’s more fun when you can accomplish the goal of reaching the pins. It’s the same with life. Wisdom from mentors and leaders are the bumpers in our life to help us find our way. Don’t try to play the game without them!
Go Exploring
Last, if you’ve checked the first two boxes and are still certain that God is calling you to missions, it’s time to venture out and explore. We recommend for anyone looking to join our Global Surge team that they do a six month internship to test the waters first. This period helps them see if they are a good fit for us and honestly helps us to see if we are a good fit for them!
If God has opened the doors for you, and you are moving in a wise way, then it may be time to take the step of faith and go for it! Go explore what God wants to do with your life!