How do you know God’s will for your life?

A lot of times, teens get the idea that God is going to reveal His plan for your lives just like a Google search. Ask and you’ll get an answer. But it’s not that simple.

Teens have to realize that God may lead you into experiences that will eventually create a direction or call.

One college guy, Jake, said that God had “called” him to missions. He had never gone on a mission trip (not even one day of outreach work). He had taken a language class in high school but hadn’t really kept up with it.

Jake was worrying about this “call” and asked an adult about it. The adult suggested that often when we feel called, we have an interest in that area. When Jake was asked “What do you want to do in missions?” he said, “I just want to be a missionary.”

Well, there really isn’t such a thing as a generic missionary. Why? Because even missionaries have skill sets that they use in particular world areas. Someone with business training may help local people with macro businesses or cottage businesses. Another person skilled in agriculture may help local communities figure out how best to farm to help feed the entire area. Missionaries are preachers, teachers, physicians, office administrators, language experts, translators. But they’re not unskilled and untrained!

Lisa, as a high school student, was considering becoming a veterinarian. She worked hard on her grades to make sure she was doing well in science and math courses, especially. Also, while in high school she volunteered at a veterinary clinic and spent hours shadowing one of the doctors. During college, Lisa kept up her grades and kept volunteering at the vet clinic.

The summer after high school the vet clinic hired her full time. Each summer after that, she went back to work in the clinic. When it came time to apply to vet schools, she visited and applied to several. Two schools accepted her into their programs, not only because of high scores and grades, but also because she had tons of experience working with all kinds of animals and understood so much about what it takes to be a veterinarian.

Now, Lisa is a DVM, doctor of veterinary medicine. She has pursued her loves of animals and science. She’s a compassionate young woman. Plus, she loves instructing people on how best to care for their pets and other animals.

So ask yourself:

1. What are my interests?

2. How can I use the things that interest me to make the world a better place?

3. Is God glorified in my (fill in the blank) ________________________?

4. Are there sides of this that I haven’t considered? For example, if you love music, maybe consider mixing music and education. Or consider music and business?

5. Can I make a living doing this now, and a career out of doing this for the long term?

God “calls” us to use our gifts, explore our interests, and bring wonderful things into the world.

Sometimes people know from an early age that they have a call to a specific thing. For others, they pursue their dreams and may not sense a “call,” but they keep walking through open doors by using the talents, interests, and passions God gives to them.

You may not realize it, but a lot of people change careers over time. And that’s okay. As you have more life experiences and as your interests grow, you’ll find ways to expand your horizons and use multiple skill sets to fulfill your dreams and meet the other’s needs.

If you feel like you don’t have any idea in the world about your next steps in life, consider these:

1. Pray and ask God to speak to you. Then, pay attention. Listen.

2. Look around. Who in your world is doing something that interests you? Find out how they got to that place in life.

3. Ask your parents and other adults you trust for their ideas.

4. Do online searches for schools, careers, and fields. Get an idea of what it takes financially and academically to pursue whatever is driving you in life.

Dream big. Don’t be afraid. Let God use you now, and every day of your life, to be the best person you can be, and to make the world a better place, for Jesus’ sake.

Holiness Today Staff

Please note: All facts, figures, and titles were accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of original publication but may have since changed.