As we know all too well, life is filled with different seasons–and I’m talking more than just changes in weather. But since the weather makes a great analogy, I’ll compare this to sunny days and stormy days. It’s easy for the extremes in the weather to stand out–like a season filled with sunshine, fruit, and taking in all of the beauty of life as God created it to be. Then there are the storms in life. The days that feel like a tornado came through and caused complete destruction. In these seasons, we often find ourselves praising God for the good or clinging to God to survive the bad.

But life is filled with more than the above extremes. Oftentimes, we find ourselves in a season that seems to have a steady drizzle… There’s not a terrible storm, but the sun remains hidden, and the weather is unpleasant enough to keep us inside. The “inside” I’m referring to is our comfort zone. Day to day life is just challenging or rainy enough to keep us seeking comfort inside, thus stopping us from getting out and doing anything radical in our day to day life. If we have any aspirations for things we want to accomplish, we put them on hold in these less than ideal conditions in hopes that a better time will come.

I recently shared with a close friend and mentor about my being in a season of “constant drizzle,” and it led to her asking me about what I think God has called for me to do in this season. It’s easy for our minds to go a million places when posed with this question of “what is your calling.” For me in this season, I know I feel called to continue growing in my Christian walk and pursue Christ. I feel called to be at home caring for my husband and kids. I feel called to be a good servant and diligent worker at my job. But is there something else that I feel called to do–a form of righteous ambition–that I am believing isn’t worth my time right now, or that I simply don’t have the time for? And if we truly feel the Lord has called us to do it, is it possible that the problem isn’t with us having enough time or energy to do it, but having enough faith that God will use that effort for His good?

As I prayed this week about my calling, I was also in the book of Mark for my daily reading. The following two verses especially stood out to me:

“And because of their unbelief, [Jesus] couldn’t do any miracles…” (Mark 6:5)

Yet just a few verses before this, Jesus told Jairus who’s sick daughter just died, “Don’t be afraid, just have faith.” Then Jesus raised his daughter from the dead. (Mark 5:36)

If God has provided the necessary gifts and a call to action, and we don’t take the steps to pursue that calling, then we are not providing any effort for the Lord to bless and use. But if we feel called to do something and we take the steps in faith to see it through, the blessing could be so far greater than anything we could have imagined. And bear in mind that this isn’t exactly optional. “To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.” (Matthew 25:29)

So what is stopping you from pursuing your calling right now? And this doesn’t have to be your career; maybe right now your calling is to wake up early enough to read scripture and pray. Maybe your call is to volunteer and serve within the church. Maybe your call requires you to get a higher education and you need to go back to school. What’s stopping you?

Are you afraid you aren’t intelligent enough? Just have faith.

Are you afraid your message won’t be received? Just have faith.

Are you afraid you won’t have enough time? Just have faith.

And on that note, the enemy will do everything he can to make you feel you aren’t capable of serving God’s purpose. Maybe your days are consumed with being a caregiver to a sick or special needs family member. Maybe you have a job that requires 60 hours of your week. Maybe your life is in a peak season of chaos, and yet you still feel God’s tug at your heart to come seek Him and His purpose in this season. And maybe He is calling you in this season to pursue Him like never before, build the necessary habits, and step out of your comfort zone while you are already uncomfortable. Ask yourself seriously, how often is your life comfortable? After all, it’s usually the discomfort in our lives shaping and preparing us for the work He has for us.

Plus, can you picture yourself looking at Jesus and saying, “Now isn’t a good time…?” Yeah, me neither.

So next time you have a Godly desire to do something (emphasis on the Godly part), don’t wait for the ideal time or make excuses as to why you can’t do it now. Take it to God in faith, that if that desire is from Him, He will make it clear and He will make a way. This is the same God that raises the dead, and I promise you he can breathe life into any endeavor He calls you to. You need only have faith, take up your cross, and follow Him.

“Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.” Mark 8: 34 & 35

Praying that we answer God’s call,

Haley