Its the ultimate question in the game of life and the pinnacle of conversation starters during any family gathering or social outing. Its that stubborn inquiry which manifests itself into every inner dialogue and late night existential meltdown.

Its first debut comes in a more illusive form: ‘what do you want to be?’

Fast forward a few frantic study sessions, two technology malfunctions an hour before the paper deadline, and several gulps of espresso shots later, the graduation caps fly and the diplomas are framed. In no time at all, the question then becomes, ‘what do you do?’

At some point, that question no longer has the power to dry your mouth or cause you a few moments of panic while you search for an answer that will fill the gaps of such a weighty inquiry. You’ve perfected that elevator pitch and without batting an eye, you recite in a concise enough manner what it is you spend your nine to five doing.

There are many people who suffer the horrendous mid life or even quarter life crisis. As the years go by, there exists a different set of questions: how did I get here? Why am I still here? What am I supposed to be doing?

Contrary to popular belief, you may not be assigned to the job you envisioned yourself to be at. God may or may not open those doors for you, yet one of the most amazing and reassuring truths we can rely on is that He knows exactly what He’s doing [Proverbs 19:5].

Where you are right now is never by chance. There are times where it seems like it was a simple roll of the die, but if you see your life as a novel written by the most fantastic author that’s ever lived, you will know that a gifted writer always weaves a seamless narrative into existence.

Such is the magnificence and splendor of our God.

We focus so much of our time finding the right job, the right duties and the right amount of pay that we lose sight on the bigger purpose of God’s call for us. There is nothing wrong in seeking out a career by utilizing the gifts God has given you, but there is something deeply wrong when your hope, worth and happiness depend on it. Just because you find yourself skilled in something does not mean that God will use you through that specific ability. Likewise, just because something may be a weakness of yours does not mean God cannot use it for His glory. Take Moses for example. As a poor public speaker, he ran from God’s call to speak to the Israelites and yet God used the very thing he lacked to lead His people and demonstrate God’s relentless love.

There is much grace in focusing your heart on one call. God does not ask you to find the right job in order to live and serve Him faithfully. It’s not so much about the career, but rather the call that God wants us to be faithful to.

God does not form us in the womb with the intention of making him a financial analyst or her a social worker. He forms us to be men and women after His own heart. That is the call. More than our ideal job or ideal work environment, our greatest source of joy and purpose is to work for His glory.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

– Isaiah 55: 8-9