A calling (or purpose) brings great joy, deep fulfillment, intense fear, and sharp pain. That surprises us and leads to conflicting feelings of confusion and doubt.
We have all these expectations of what is "supposed" to happen once we find our calling and commit ourselves to it. We expect it to deliver joy, success, meaning, fulfillment, contentment, and all the good things we want from life.
But then we experience the fear, the doubt, the unknown, the distractions, the criticism, the adversity, and the failure that accompanies every true calling. It reminds me of being a parent.
Is there anything that brings more joy than your children? Is there anything that brings more fear? Does anything create more fulfillment? Does anything create more frustration?
Whether it's our kids or anyone else we love, it's because of the deep love we feel that we also feel disappointment when things don't go well and pain when the relationship is damaged or lost.
The more we love someone, the more we fear something bad happening to them, and the more it hurts when something does. The brighter the light, the darker the shadows.
The stronger your purpose and the more committed you are to it, the more you will feel every strain, struggle, setback, and pressure to be worthy of that calling.
Don't be confused by these feelings or resentful of them. Everyone who answers their calling feels fear, pain, and doubt as they pursue it.
Be encouraged. Be energized. It signals that your calling means something significant and is worthy of your devotion and discipline.
The time is now. Do the work.
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