Master of None: But Known By One - Find Your Calling

The Big Question in Life

Finding our "purpose" is one of life's greatest mysteries - and even though we all share in figuring it out together, the discovery in finding it still feels burdensome.

As a believer in Jesus, I'm not trying to answer the existential question of what we were created for. Because the Bible states that we are created "through him and for him" (Colossians 1:16) stating that we were designed to be in relation with our Maker.

The Natural Search for Purpose

But early in my life, I always wrestled with the idea of finding that purpose. Naturally, most people either dismiss the idea for themselves and pursue pleasure over purpose or they manifest their own purpose. Some did one or some did the other, I leaned back and forth as well but the part of me that wanted to find my purpose and calling kept getting overridden by this idea that I'm not really "good" at anything seemed to plague me.

No subject in school was my best and I was a B (…or C) student, I loved playing sports and was good at playing multiple positions from quarterback to defensive line but was never the best player on the team, and some could say I was pretty outgoing but I never felt like the cool kid in school.

Getting to college only made this more challenging because now I "had" to specialize in something. Not feeling called one way or another, I chose to pursue business management so that it could apply to any industry while I still figured it out.

Why “Finding Your Calling” Isn’t About a Career

Nobody tells you this but after college - you get hit with this depression bomb because you realize that being in school is your "purpose crutch" that makes you feel safe when people ask you where you're at in life but it's pulled out from under you when you graduate!

Depressed and anxiety-ridden, I kept trying to figure it out. With my degree in hand I jumped from industry to industry and job to job moving through Education, Construction, Finance, Administration, and then finally landing in Marketing.

"This is it!", I thought.

It was my goal to get to be a Marketing Manager at the corporate level and say that I had made it. I worked my way up the corporate ladder and within a few years I had it. But even then, something was missing...

Baby-Step Obedience: The First Move Toward Your Calling

Did I choose the wrong path? Is there something I'm missing? Do I keep climbing? Where's my peace? Where's my joy?

Maybe I wasn't made to "Master" one thing. It was at this point I realized there's a difference between a purposeful career and a calling from God.

I prayed and fasted and began to trust the Lord with where I was being called. It started off small with a season I called “Baby Step Obedience”.

I wanted God to show me the full path to his calling, but God can’t give you all that you’re created for until you build your relationship with Him first. It takes a level of trust to be established between the two of you. Like the parable of the talents God wants us to ”be faithful in handling this small amount, so He can give you many more responsibilities” (Matthew 25:23)

For many, you’ll see God start to move maybe in your professional career, a hobby, or a passion project and with God at the center and discernment from the Holy Spirit we can determine it to be the path God wants us to go down.

For me, it started small, God moved me first from the kids ministry to the middle school and high school ministry. Nothing monumental, just still serving in church. Next, I was invited to be a part of a small group. Again, nothing monumental but began to see the value of community. I then took an interest in the experience of a first timer at my church so I became a greeter. After a month, I was in the rotation for announcements on stage! This started to feel a little bigger and with the increased role, I felt a bit more influence and direction. After some time of nurturing these small callings, pressing into my relationship with God, and seeking direction from people I admire. I believe I’m called to be a pastor.

Now, I want to clarify that this doesn’t necessarily mean I’m called to be on stage, cultivate a large following, or add pastor to my name. What I realized is that I was called to encourage people, to love people, to guide people, to orchestrate things, to manage people, to create new ways for people to grow and learn more about Christ. Calling isn't always tied to a job title.

And the thing is…it’s what we’re all called to do! “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39)

Maybe we aren’t all called to be in ministry but how we choose to carry this out is completely up to us! As long as we keep Christ at the center of it all - we can find the fruit of the Spirit ring true in our lives, not just on Sunday but everyday.

The Difference Between Career and Calling

We don’t necessarily need to master one thing but allow your calling to bleed into every part of your life. Don’t be afraid to try something new and what you may consider a weakness is actually where your true strength lies. I always thought not being “really good” at one thing made me less than but I realized God made me “good” at a lot of things so I can help anyone, relate to people, and be a “jack of all trades” to further his kingdom.

While writing this, I learned that the origin of this saying “Jack of All Trades, Master of None” was from the 17th century and was given to William Shakespeare because so many people admired his wide array of talents. The original quote’s actually positive, but somewhere along the way it got cut short and turned negative. The full original of the quote says “Jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than master of one.”

Press into your calling and don’t let anything hold you back from where God is calling you to go. If you’re in that ‘figuring it out’ phase - keep walking. The calling is often already in motion before we recognize it.

Still figuring it out? Me too.
But I believe we don’t have to do it alone.
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