Learn More About Your True Career Path With This Quote

You Might Have Found Your Life’s Work in This Quote

To what do you feel called?
One of the most often cited and helpful explanations of Christian calling is “the location God calls you to is the spot where your inner happiness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” Frederick Buechner, a preacher, theologian, and best-selling author who passed away on August 15, 2022 at the age of 96, wrote it.

With 40 volumes under his belt, he quickly became a fan favorite. His comments about his writing may be seen in an interview he gave in 1996: “I remember that coming up with book plots was always the hardest part for me when I first began writing novels. After that, I could only see one possible storyline. It has to do with how the universe, or God, or life, really works. This is the central theme of all of my writing, whether fictional and nonfictional.”

Greater Meaning of “Vocation” (Calling)

We’ve incorporated a statement from his book, Wishful Thinking: A Theological ABC, in our book, Live Your Calling. Here’s the longer version of the remark in which he defines vocation:

“The Latin word vocare translates to “to cry out.” The calling of God is the person’s vocation in life. Finding the voice of God, as opposed to, say, Society, the Superego, or Self-Interest, among the many voices calling you to various forms of activity, is the challenge.

The challenge is in distinguishing between the voices of God and those of, say, Society, the Superego, or Self-Interest when it comes to deciding what sort of labor to do.

As a general rule, this is a reliable method of investigation. When God calls you to do anything, it’s typically because (a) you really need to do it and (b) the world really needs it done. If your job gives you joy, then you’ve fulfilled condition (a), but if you write TV deodorant advertisements, then you’ve probably failed to fulfill condition (b) (b). If, on the other hand, you are a doctor in a leper colony, you have likely fulfilled condition (b), but if you spend most of your time bored and saddened by this profession, you have likely avoided (a) and aren’t doing much good for your patients.

To put it another way, the location God calls you to is the intersection of your heart’s greatest joy and the world’s greatest need.”

What does this imply, though? We think that “the world’s deep hunger” refers to the specific needs you are excited about helping, and that “your deep happiness” relates to the God-given abilities that invigorate and bring you delight when you apply them. Most individuals require time and deliberate effort to learn what really brings them joy and what needs they are most enthusiastic about fulfilling. To hear God’s voice above all the others, one must have a growing connection with the Lord.

The term “enthusiasm” originates from the Greek prefix “en,” which means “inside,” and the word “theos,” which means “god.” When our God-given design aligns with the needs of the world, we feel a surge of excitement. You may learn a lot about who you are and what you’re meant to do in life by how passionate you are about helping others with certain needs. The works of Frederick Buechner provide light on what it means to be called by God in one’s vocation and one’s life.

Multiple interpretations may be made of your “deep happiness.” Answering thoughtful questions like:

Just who am I, anyway? Where do I fit into God’s plan? Ask yourself, “What do I look forward to accomplishing, what do I value, what drives me, and what gives my life meaning?” How can I put to good use the skills and talents that God has given me?

Alternatively, you might use scientifically-validated, specialized career exams. As career advisers, we’ve used tools like these to help people zero in on the jobs that really make them happy. Only licensed professional career counselors may provide you with access to some of these tests. These evaluations, or “career exams,” let individuals quickly get insight into their unique set of abilities, values, interests, motivations, personality characteristics, and workplace requirements. According to our interpretation of Buechner, their “deep delight” reflects the evaluation findings that reflect the talents God has given them, the qualities that bring them joy and vitality.

Focusing on Needs in Light of the “World’s Deep Hunger”

Because we’re human, we tend to prioritize our own wants and needs. But God tells us to focus on the hardships of others. The range of human need is enormous. Every occupation serves a useful purpose. Consider: What problems, concerns, or causes do I care about most and want to try to solve?

God has the ability to take care of everyone and everything, but he instead gives each of us a unique passion for addressing a specific global issue.

The term “need” as used here encompasses not just the absence of essentials like food, water, shelter, and medical care, but also the desire for and utility of things like a decent education and leisure pursuits. For animals and other forms of life, the term “need” may also refer to what they need to survive. Veterinarians, for instance, help animals in pain and see to their other requirements.

Learning what kinds of needs you most take pleasure in fulfilling is an essential step in identifying your calling. Caring profoundly about the needs that we are addressing gives us a better feeling of purpose in our employment and volunteer activities.

After taking stock of your talents (your heart’s greatest joy) and the needs of the world (its heart’s greatest hunger), the next stage is to envisage how your gifts may serve those needs.

It would be great if God could give us an email, a text message, or a miraculous insight outlining his plan for our lives and telling us exactly what to do to make it a reality. The message would be much more appealing if it assured us that our future plans will be completely safe and prosperous.

Unfortunately, God seldom chooses to act in such a predictable fashion. Instead, we perceive that God frequently summons his people by generating a mental picture or persuasive notion of how our abilities might be utilized to satisfy needs in the world, as seen in the lives of great people of faith, the journeys of our clients, and our own lives. The vision provides just enough guidance for us to act in obedience and trust, but it does not spell out every little detail or promise a certain conclusion.

Without a clear idea of where you want to go in life, it may be difficult to take the first steps toward finding your vocation. However, taking the initiative to learn more about the ways your skills can be applied to real-world problems is a good first step.

A spark of curiosity, a glimmer of an idea, or a passing fancy might be the beginning of a vision of God’s calling for your life. Inspiring factors may come from anywhere:

One example is Michael, who considered using his computer abilities to Bible translation out of a sense of personal need. He has now joined Wycliffe Bible Translators, where he helps localize the New Testament into several languages. They self-identify as technical specialists.

Or talent-based, like Laura, who discovered her calling to writing while contributing to her church’s magazine and eventually found work as a writer and editor for Christian groups and publishers.

Or, it might be motivated by personal experience, as in the case of Barbara, who wanted to assist other women going through chemotherapy for the same reason. After completing her counseling degree, Barbara began working with women both one-on-one and in group settings including seminars and workshops.

You may make the link between your profound joy and the profound hunger in the world in three different ways: via the fulfillment of a need, the receipt of a gift, or the accumulation of life experience.

Examining the Waters and Seeing What’s There

You may get some glimpses of what God is asking you to accomplish in the world right now when you build connections utilizing the catalysts (gift-driven, experience-driven, and experience-driven). The next stage is to put those choices to the test of reality. Here are some methods for finding out more/checking assumptions:

• Reading about jobs that cater to the kinds of needs you’re interested in addressing is one way to put your ideals to the test. The US Department of Labor’s ONET is one of the most useful web tools out there. You may use the ONET’s search bar to look for certain terms or professions. Use terms like “money” or “debt” to narrow your focus if you’re particularly interested in helping folks pay off their debts. Jobs matching your criteria will then be shown. The duties, pay, and required qualifications for each position are detailed below.

• The second method is to do research on the internet. Google “careers that help people manage money,” for instance, if you’re interested in assisting those who are struggling with debt. Articles like “Cash-Related Careers: 10 Jobs that Deal with Money” would be among the topics covered. You may also do a Google search for “a day in the life of a financial advisor.” The search would return video testimonials from workers discussing their regular workday.

• Talking to individuals who work in fields you’re interested in is the third essential tactic, and this may be done via informative interviews. Questions like “What is a typical day like on the job?” “What do you like most about your work?” and “What do you like least about your job?” as well as “What actions would I need to take to perform the job you do?” are all part of this process. Through connections and recommendations made by others, you may locate potential interviewees on the professional networking website LinkedIn.com.

Your Vocation (or calling) may be found by following these guidelines. Moreover, for Christian men and women, prayer must be an intrinsic part of the process of uncovering, exploring, and testing the truth of one’s calling. You may have faith that God will guide you as you strive to utilize your talents to address issues that God has placed on your heart to address. There are many people whose needs Buechner addressed in his work and in his understanding of Vocation, and for that we are eternally grateful.