For the last couple of weeks, we’ve been digging into Judges 6 to get everything we can out of it. This particular chapter of Judges is so rich and filled with wisdom on finding your calling. Often we are a bit hard on Gideon, quick to point out his doubts and shortcomings but I think this is the very thing that lets us feel like we can relate to him.
Pin for later!
This post contains affiliate links, read our privacy policy for more information.
Finding Our Calling A Lesson From Gideon
One of the things that stick out to me, in Judges 6 is that God doesn’t call us by what we are. He doesn’t call Gideon in the Bible by what we might be, he doesn’t call him frightened, or even he-who-is-in-hiding. Instead, God calls him as if Gideon had already stepped into the role God had destined for him.
The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” Judges 6:11-12 NIV emphases added.
At that moment, threshing wheat in a winepress Gideon was far from a mighty warrior. He was living under the oppression of the Midianites, frightened for his life and driven to attempt the impossible task of threshing wheat in a winepress and to us, it would seem far from finding his calling.
Finding Our Calling From Christ
Your past, background, and shortcomings can not stand in the way of what God wants to do in your life and finding your calling. Gideon is the perfect example of this, at our first look at this Biblical figure he is anything but a “mighty warrior”. But God in his amazing wisdom take what is not enough and turns it into a beacon of hope to shine through the centuries to meet us right where we are.
So often we hold up these things that we believe disqualify us when in reality these are the very things that God wants to use. If Gideon was already a mighty warrior, there wouldn’t be this opening to encourage us. Because let’s face it, how many of us feel like a mighty warrior?
Gideon was just going about his everyday life, this was his norm, his average there was nothing extraordinary about it. Can you relate? Until God stepped in and met him in the midst of the ordinary. I think we often think God is looking for something special, something out of the ordinary to use, when in fact He’s just looking for us.
Trusting God In The Midst Of The Disfunction
Are you rooted in a dysfunctional place, afraid to be seen, and questioning your worth. Maybe deep down you know that God calls you His child, that He loves you, and cares for you. But you can’t see yourself in that light, instead, you see the shortcomings, the broken places and the things you wish you could change. God doesn’t see us through our eyes, or even the world’s eyes. He sees us through the lens of who He created us to be, and calls us by that name.
You are the child that he crossed through eternity to save and set free, you aren’t bound by your background or the places you’ve been. It doesn’t matter if you don’t feel like your enough, or you think you are too insignificant to be used. He’s calling, listen for His voice and find your calling.
How To Find Your Calling
Gideon’s story is probably one of the biggest turn arounds in the Bible, from threshing wheat in a winepress to firmly planted in the role God had planned for him. Did he still have questions? Still, have doubts? Did God still have to take his hand and walk him through the places he wasn’t sure of? Absolutely. But his questions and fears didn’t hold him back, from following God’s call.
Finding your calling begins with digging with trusting God knows the future, trusting that His vision of us is better than our own. It requires us to step out of our “winepresses” and stepping into the light. It is far easier to stay in the shadows, safe in our comfort zone. But to find your calling we must step out and embrace the calling God has planned for us.
How do you find your calling?
- Dig into your Bible – learn it, study it, read it diligently day in and day out. Nothing will grow your faith quite like diligent Bible reading.
- Spend time in prayer – Prayer is an important part of your walk with Christ, He wants to hear from you, wants you to come with your thanksgiving and your need. Don’t know how to pray?
- Surrounding yourselves with other believers – finding other believers to walk will give you someone to lean on when you are discouraged and someone to share your joys, but you’ll also have people to pray for you.
- Find a church and get involved – join a group, or a bible study or Sunday school. Find other Christians to do life with.
Before you go, check these out!
Hi
I liked your post on Gideon so much. I know God is seeking many Gideons among us. He is the God who strengthens ordinary mortals for great feats.
Keep blogging sis.
God bless you like Gideon
Saji