Ill-Fitting Shoes

Are you walking in YOUR calling, or are you trying to walk in someone else’s calling? Their calling will NEVER EVER fit you, Girlfriend!

David learned this early on as we read in 1 Samuel 17:

When you walk in your calling, you’ll make some people uncomfortable, mad and just plain jealous.

In 1 Samuel 17, we read the story of David and Goliath. But before the battle between David and THE giant (Goliath), David had to battle other giants in his life. When Eliab, David’s older brother, saw David on the battlefield, he was angry. He started questioning David (I’m paraphrasing): “Who are you? You don’t belong here. This is for those who know what they are doing. You, obviously, don’t. You’ve only been a shepherd. Go back to tending sheep.”

Haven’t you heard the same things when you chose to step out in faith in some area: “Who are you? You don’t belong here. You have been a stay-at-home mom for the past 19 years. You don’t have any ministry experience. You aren’t licensed or ordained. What makes you think you are qualified? You’re too loud. You’re too quiet. Leave the big jobs to us.”

Girls, the ones criticizing you are usually the ones sitting on the sidelines doing nothing, while you are in the game giving it your all. Like Eliab, they are also the ones too focused on the opposition afraid of doing what they are supposed to be doing. They like it better when you sit down and shut up because you are making waves for them. You are rocking their boat, and they don’t like it. Some people cannot handle it when you have had enough of sitting on the sidelines and want to engage the battle with the gifts God’s given you.

Check your heart, and learn to tune them out!

When you walk in your calling, be prepared to be accused of wrong motives for doing what you do.

When Eliab saw David, he questioned his motives for being there. His own brother, rooted in jealousy I’m sure, accused David of being prideful, conceited, and presumptuous. Nevermind the fact that Jesse, David’s father, sent David to bring them food.

“She’s just looking for her 5-minutes of fame. She doesn’t really care about anyone but herself. She does what she does because she wants to be heard or seen. Who does she think she is? Does she think she is better than we are?”

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Even if these things are not said to you directly by someone else, trust me, they will be lies whispered to you by the enemy of your soul and the destroyer of your destiny. If left unchecked, these lies will whittle your resolve down to nothing. You’ll be left second guessing yourself at every turn, and you will never accomplish anything for His kingdom.

Your unique experiences in life have been preparing you for what God wants you to do.

God-sized dreams are more than you can do on your own! You don’t feel equipped or ready. But, Sister, God has been preparing you all along for what He wants you to do. God is going to use everything you’ve experienced (all the good, bad, painful and awesome things) to work out His plan in your life. You are not disqualified because of a painful past. You are not overlooked because of a mistake you’ve made last week. God uses it all for His purpose in your life!

Saul tried to convince David he was too young. Regardless, David assured him that he was indeed the man to fight and win the battle, and he recited all the ways God had been preparing him.

“Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine” (I Samuel 17:36-37).

You can’t walk in your calling using someone else’s shoes (or armor).

Upon being convinced that David was the man to fight Goliath, King Saul said, “Go, and the Lord be with you.” Saul then dressed David in his armor, but David couldn’t use someone else’s armor. I imagine David walking around with this clunky armor that didn’t fit. Other people’s callings will never fit!

David took it off, and in the confidence God gave him, he went out and chose five smooth stones instead.

Girls, wear what God gives you, NOT what someone else gives you!

Others will ALWAYS try to get you to fulfill YOUR calling THEIR way. Don’t do it! God has been specifically preparing YOU for what He wants YOU to do.

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Settle it once and for all, deep within your heart, that you don’t have to fill anyone else’s shoes but the ones God has DESIGNED specifically for you. He’s the best designer to ever live! His shoes are custom made for each person!

Walk confidently before the one who has called you!