How to embrace God’s multi-purpose calling
It was 9th grade year and I was sitting in my guidance counselor’s office. Every year, students met with their counselor to talk about their future and what they would like to do after graduation. In 9th grade, I proudly announced I wanted to be a teacher. By 10th grade, my dream job had shifted to a news anchor. And by my 11th grade year, after taking classes in the newly built computer lab, my career goal was to become a secretary.
Expressing, let alone pursuing multiple interests wasn’t really encouraged and many times I was looked upon as being indecisive or even fickle. A few “helpful” people even said, “Girl, can you just focus on one thing?” Their words came from a place of love, but I felt like had failed because I hadn’t “narrowed it down.”
Do you struggle to choose one path because you feel passionate about many things?
I’ve been there—feeling guilty for loving multiple things and wondering if I’m wasting time trying to do them all. But what if this isn’t a sign of indecision? What if this tension is part of God’s beautiful design for life?
Today we’re going to take a look at a powerful direction from the Apostle Paul to his young pupil, Timothy.
“Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.” – 1 Timothy 4:14 (ESV)
The phrase “do not neglect” is powerful. This isn’t just a gentle reminder; it’s a charge to Timothy to embrace and steward what God has given him. And while Paul mentions a specific moment of Timothy’s gifting—through prophecy and the laying of hands—the context of Timothy’s ministry shows he wasn’t limited to a single role, ability or direction. Timothy was a young leader navigating a variety of responsibilities in ministry—teaching, mentoring, and resolving conflicts in the church.
Just one verse earlier, Paul gives Timothy specific tasks to focus on: “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.” This verse reveals the multifaceted nature of Timothy’s calling. He wasn’t just a preacher—he was called to publicly read Scripture to build up the church, to exhort (or encourage) believers, and to teach the Word.
Paul’s guidance here shows us that God often calls us to more than one thing at a time. Timothy’s responsibilities were diverse, yet they all worked together for the greater purpose of glorifying God and strengthening His church.
This is where we have permission to breathe a little easier. God doesn’t expect us to limit His gifts in our lives. In fact, Scripture reveals that God often works through people with multiple callings. David was a shepherd, a musician, a warrior, and a king. Lydia in Acts 16 was a businesswoman, a worshiper, and a host to the early church. These examples remind us that being passionate about many things doesn’t mean we’re indecisive—it means we’re richly equipped.
I long believed I had to choose one thing. I’d ask God, show me the thing You want me to do,” expecting one clear answer. Instead, God kept opening doors in multiple areas, and I felt conflicted. It wasn’t until I realized that God wasn’t asking me to choose—He was asking me to steward all the gifts He’d given me—that I found freedom.
So, friend, I ask you: What if every passion God has placed on your heart has a purpose? What if you stopped trying to fit into the world’s idea of focus and instead asked God to help you focus on Him as you move between different callings?
Here are three ways we can do this well:
1. Steward One Step at a Time:
Not every gift will be used in every season. Some passions may be for later, while others are meant to be pursued now. Trust God to show you when and where to focus. Write down your passions and prayerfully ask God, “Which one should I focus on in this season?”
2. Reframe Indecision as Multipurpose Calling:
The next time someone lovingly calls you indecisive, remind yourself that God made you to reflect His creativity. Journal about how your different passions might connect. Are there opportunities to integrate them, even in small ways? Maybe you’re a great cook and you love to write. Share those recipes on your blog – and then send me the link because I love a good recipe!
3. Use Your Passions to Serve Others:
Your gifts are meant to bless others. If you love to write, speak, and organize, find ways to do all three—perhaps by hosting a blog, leading a small group, or planning community events. One Sunday a month, I prepare a breakfast and host a Bible study with a group of women. Don’t wait for perfection; start serving now.
Remember I mentioned my annual check-in with my high school guidance counselor? I said I wanted to be a teacher, a news anchor and a secretary? Well, in my adult life, I’ve done all those things: I’ve homeschooled my boys, I blog and run a podcast and I’m an office manager in a local church. I’ve even pursued my gift of cooking and turned it into a catering business. And guess what? The overwhelm I used to feel had more to do with wrestling with God’s plan than living it out. Someone recently asked me if I was exhausted by all the things and I happily said, “Far from it. I’m blessed.”
You are not indecisive—you are richly equipped. If He’s placed multiple passions in your heart, trust that He has a reason for each one.
So, let’s stop trying to force ourselves into a small man-made box. Instead, let’s embrace the fullness of how God made us. Let’s walk boldly into our calling—no matter how many paths that includes—because the same God who gave us those passions will guide us in how to use them.
Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the unique gifts and passions You’ve placed within me. Forgive me for the times I’ve doubted their purpose or neglected to use them for Your glory. Help me to embrace the way You’ve created me – not as a mistake or being too much, but as a reflection of Your creativity. Guide me in stewarding my gifts well and show me how to use them to serve others and honor You. Give me wisdom to walk boldly in the calling You’ve placed on my life, trusting Your timing and Your plan. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Regina is a writer, homeschooling mom, and owner of a soul food catering business. She is the host of the Pray to Play podcast, where she shares practical tips and heartfelt advice for parents navigating the busy world of athletics. A contributor to several publications, including Tracie Miles' Living Unbroken book study, she is also an advocate for young adults with developmental disabilities and serves on the Compel Pro volunteer leadership team. Living in Ohio with her family, she designs Squarespace websites for fellow creatives and spends her free time cheering her sons from the sidelines or sipping tea while chatting about God’s goodness with women.
