A safe place to land
I once asked my mentors and senior pastors how they coped when they went through really difficult times – like rejection by others close to them, people leaving their church or being on the receiving end of harsh judgments. They said ‘just keep remembering your calling.’ At that time, I was training to be a pastor, but this ‘reminder’ didn’t alleviate the feelings of doubt I had about my suitability for the role. People in church leadership thought I was called to the role. I, myself, wasn’t so sure. I just didn’t feel it. I needed to feel it for their advice to ‘just keep remembering your calling’ to make sense to me.
It’s important to remember that your calling is unique to you, after all it is given to YOU by our heavenly Father himself. He knew you before you were born Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV), “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” God knows the purpose He created you for and it is in Him you must trust for guidance and revelation, Psalm 32:8 (NIV), “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
I needed to take a step back and seek God’s wisdom and listen to what He had to say about my calling. It took a lot of raw courage, heartfelt prayers, searching conversations with my patient and supportive husband, and steadfastly seeking Father’s heart for me to grasp that, no, becoming a pastor wasn’t my calling. I realised it was the leadership’s vision for the church, not the Lord’s vision for me.
After the dust settled, and the elders had accepted my decision, I understood that the Lord’s calling is the only one that matters. It is not easy to disappoint authority figures that you respect, admire, and look to for wisdom and guidance. Others may offer their opinions on what your calling is but unless it aligns with God’s, it is of no consequence. What is important is to take the time and make the time to listen to Him. Recognise and take notice of God’s prompts in your spirit and your heart. God is always talking. Are you listening?
Later, I asked the Lord, ‘What do you have for me? He said He wants me to create a ‘Safe Base’ for those in ministry to come to. A base camp not unlike the one on Mount Everest, a resting place to gather resources before carrying on with your journey. A place to just come and ‘be’, free of expectation. A place to pause a while, rest and recuperate, gather your strength, refocus your goals, reignite your passion, and restore balance. A place that people will know they will be embraced without judgment, a place of safety where fears can be voiced without condemnation, space to breath and just be in the presence of the Lord, and a place to connect with the love of Jesus! So, as I prayed into this, soon clarity came and a few months later, Kingdom Leaders was born!
It has taken time to develop and launch Kingdom Leaders – and it is still developing and growing every day. Yes, there are teething problems, but this time I know without a shadow of doubt that I will persevere because it is a clear calling from the Lord. The curve balls and challenges I face will not overcome me because I know I am walking in the Lord’s footsteps. Proverbs 16:9 (NIV), “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.”
God confirmed my calling in a vision he gave me in prayer not long ago. I saw a tall building and there was something wrong. People were jumping out of the windows to escape. I was holding a large net/trampoline at the base of the building (along with others holding tight to all the sides) making sure that the people jumping had a safe place to land. This is my calling. To offer services to people who want to “take a leap” and provide a safe place for them to land. A safe place to come to for support, hospitality, and prayer. If that’s you, I get it. I know what it feels like to jump into the unknown or walk away from something familiar but unhealthy not knowing where you’ll land. But I also know what it feels like to get the support you need when you need it, so you can get up again and carry on. I understand the resilience needed to stay the course and last the distance. It’s like John Ortberg says in the title of his book, If you want to walk on water, you’ve got to get out of the boat.
Take the leap
Kingdom Leaders offers you a ‘safe base’, a resting place for you to share your concerns, to find the strength and resources to follow God’s vision for your life. At Kingdom Leaders, our calling is to empower and encourage Christian leaders and pastors through Christian coaching, ministry and spiritual mentoring, and pastoral supervision. Kingdom Leaders can help your ‘know your why’ and ‘remember your calling’, reconnect with God’s plan for your life and ministry, and recalibrate your steps so that you are once again, walking His path in freedom, faith, and love. Book a FREE 30-minute Discovery Call with Kingdom Leaders today.
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