There’s a difference between something that interests you and something that moves you—something that won’t let you go, that lingers long after the conversation ends. These aren’t just passing thoughts. They’re signs.
Often, the clearest clues to your mission show up in what you can’t ignore:
- Maybe it’s an injustice that stirs righteous anger.
- Maybe it’s a problem you’re uniquely equipped to solve.
- Maybe it’s a group of people whose struggles feel personal to you, even if you’ve never met them.
These reactions aren’t distractions from your path. They are the path. What stirs in your heart is often the seed of your call to serve.
The prophet Jeremiah once said, “His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones.” (Jeremiah 20:9) That’s how mission often feels—not always convenient or comfortable, but undeniably present.
You may not yet know what to do with it. That’s okay. The first step is to name it.
Ask yourself:
- What issue in the world feels personal to you?
- What breaks your heart and stirs your hope?
- Where do you feel drawn to invest—not because it’s easy, but because it’s necessary?
You don’t have to build a solution overnight. But you do have to pay attention to that inner fire. It’s there for a reason. That burden you feel isn’t yours to carry alone—but it might be yours to respond to.
Sometimes the clearest sign of your calling is the ache you feel when something isn’t right. Don’t ignore it. Don’t fight it. Follow it.
