I have known for nearly fifty years that God leads his children. The chorus of the classic hymn I often sing to myself goes like this: “He leadeth me, He leadeth me, by His own hand He leadeth me. His faithful follower I would be, for by His hand He leadeth me.” This begs a question. Do we know exactly how he leads us?
What has driven me to address this subject is dissatisfaction with an article I wrote last June, “How Does God Lead Us to Our Calling?” which was published here on the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics blog later in August. After I read it again, it was clear that I fully supported the idea that God does lead us to find our vocational calling when we seek him diligently. However, I did not explain how God leads us.
To unpack how God leads his children vocationally, I will use several excerpts from my book that are relevant. I will also expand on these concepts with additional biblical, theological, and practical considerations.
God Used to Lead His People Audibly
Any Christian who has attended church for any length of time as a child or adult can probably name several men and women in the Bible whom God spoke to, either directly or through angelic messengers. For example, there is Adam (Gen. 3:9-19), Abram (Gen. 12:1-3), Jacob (Gen. 28:10-15), Moses (Ex. 3:4-22), Isaiah (Is. 6:1-13), Mary (Lk. 1:26-38), and Joseph (Matt. 1:20-21).
Jesus spoke to Saul on the road to Damascus (Ac. 9:1-16). From that initial meeting, he knew that he was called to preach to the Gentiles. Did you ever wonder how Paul knew where he needed to go to preach the gospel? In Acts 16:9-10, we read that he had a vision of a Macedonian man imploring him to come. Paul was sure God called him to preach there, so he obeyed and went.
However, this was a rare instance recorded here in the book of Acts. It was the exception and not the rule. It is not normative to expect a vision or voice from God telling us when and where to go.
God Leads Us Through His Word
Perhaps the earliest example that comes to mind is when God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses (Ex. 20:1-17). They were written on tablets of stone as a visual reminder of basic truths that would lead God’s chosen people to remain in proper relation to him and to each other. After the Israelites wandered through the desert for forty years, these commands were reemphasized with the younger generation (Deut. 5:6-21). They were instructed to teach them to their children.
Jesus himself was led by God’s Word, especially when he really needed it. When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, he boldly proclaimed, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matt. 4:4). Jesus taught that those who held to his teaching “will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (Jn. 8:32).
However, we cannot expect to randomly flip the pages of scripture to discover exactly what vocation we should choose. God does lead us in general through his Word using commands and principles. More often, though, he leads us specifically through the counsel of those who know us.
God Leads Us Through Others
Doug Schuurman, in Vocation, adds, “Though the New Testament does not provide a formula for discerning God’s callings, it does indicate key elements often present in this process … Though the process certainly includes the individual’s self-assessment and willingness to serve, the process of discernment has communal aspects that are essential to discovering one’s callings.”
This cannot be overemphasized. Those who know us best can offer us valuable career advice. God uses parents, coaches, teachers, youth pastors, friends, and others to point out what we are and are not good at and what kinds of fields we should consider as we begin to explore our career options.
In my next article, I will share how God provides spiritual wisdom and uses our individual experiences, concerns, abilities, and interests to guide us to our vocational callings.
Editor’s Note: This article was adapted from the author’s personal blog. Republished with permission.
