Undaunted by Christine CaineSýnishorn

When Paul wrote to the church in Rome, he began his letter by saying that he was “a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle.” The word called in this verse carries a sense of purpose, intent, and direction. When Paul heard God’s divine call on the road to Damascus, he was flooded with a powerful sense of destiny.1 

Part of my calling is to share the gospel and to see people come to Christ. I’m called to teach the Word of God so people can be transformed by the power of God. I’m called to lead and teach others to lead so they can learn how to be full of the power of God, so they can fulfill what God has called them to do. I’m called to be a wife and a mother. A friend. And I’m called to help abolish slavery everywhere, forever. 

These callings are my assignments, my vocations. The word vocation is from the Latin vocatio, which means “calling.” At its core, work is calling, designed by God to fulfill a purpose that is outside of oneself, a purpose that brings glory to God and blesses others. We were all created for work. Even before God gave Adama spouse, he assigned him a vocation, a calling. He was to tend the garden and name the animals.2

I answered God’s call, though I felt unqualified. But don’t we all feel that way when God calls us to do something? Whether it’s to start a business, launch an outreach, or walk across the street to meet a new neighbor and spark a friendship, when God’s Spirit gently nudges us—or not so gently nudges us— to make a bold step, take a risk, serve others, save a life, or commit, why is it that we so often hold back? At least a little? 

Because we don’t feel empowered.
We don’t feel qualified.

We think we lack the courage, the strength, the wisdom, the money, the influence, the experience, the education, the organization, the backing. We feel like Moses when, from out of the burning bush, God called him to speak for him before Pharaoh—the highest leader in the land: “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent…I am slow of speech and tongue…Please send someone else.” 6 

We can sound just like that when God calls us. Not me, God. I’m afraid. Weak. Poor. Incapable. Unqualified. Daunted. 

There were years of my life when that’s exactly how I would have responded, but I grew to live undaunted. 

For more on living life undaunted, visit www.ChristineCaine.com/Undaunted 

1 Rom. 1:1; https://renner.org/devotionals/the-comforter-part-2

2 https://catalystleader.com/read/calling-or-career; Gen. 2:15; 2:20. 

Adapted from Undaunted: Daring To Do All That God Calls You To Do by Christine Caine. Copyright © 2019 by Christine Caine. Reprinted with permission of Zondervan Publishing. All rights reserved.