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When You Question God’s Calling For Your Life

October 9, 2017 By Karen Sipps 11 Comments

There was a time when I was a small business owner. In fact, simultaneously, I owned two businesses. In one company, I was a leader in Direct Sales and I’d risen to the top 4% of the company. My team was flourishing, business was good, and I was happily leading them with devotionals and encouragement as well as sales guidance.

I’d found the perfect blend of faith and business. But little by little, I felt God calling me to write for Him, so I told my team that I’d be stepping down to follow Him. Stepping down felt right and I knew in my heart I was heading in the right direction.

And then there was the other business. Started at roughly the same time, I worked hard into all hours of the night after my full-time job and my Direct Sales job, all while my family slept. I had dreams that this would become our family business. In my mind, I had roles for each person in my family that fit them perfectly. My son had named the business, and I thought this would be something my husband and I could retire from.

But when God asked me to lay that business down just a few years in, I wasn’t quite so willing.

In fact, for two years after I started hearing that still, small voice tell me to give it up, I hemmed and hawed and Jonah-ed my way around the topic. I hopped on that virtual boat to Tarshish, completely ignoring the fact that God had said to go to Nineveh. I even pseudo-quit once. I told my contractors and accountant that I was leaving because I felt God telling me to leave. And then I never. Actually. Left. That’s right. I told them I would leave and follow God, but I didn’t do it! Some of my contractors left for other companies. Others stayed, and get this – I even brought on NEW contractors!

I had done the old “Eve” switcheroo by listening to the serpent as he hissed into my ears, “Did God really say that?” After all, wouldn’t God just stop sending business and contractors my way if He really wanted me to quit? Wouldn’t He just close the door?

But dreamers, listen. There’s a difference between following God and having Him force you along. True faith cannot be forced.

Let’s talk for a minute about the moment when Jesus chose his first disciples. Matthew 4:18-22 says,

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

By my logic, Jesus would have walked up to them and ripped the nets from their hands, dragging them by their hair to follow him. He would have removed all the fish from the ocean to make their choice easier. But Jesus didn’t. He asked them to follow him, and immediately they dropped their nets, left their boats, and followed a man they’d never met.

How much more willing should I be to follow Jesus, the one whom I profess to love and serve? And yet there I was, taking on new business and new clients, because “What if I heard God wrong?” 

Sometimes God doesn’t stop sending business our way so we’re forced to quit and follow Him. Sometimes He asks us to follow in faith. It’s always our choice to follow Him, even when business is prospering and it makes no sense to leave our nets behind. I was asking God to make the choice for me because I thought my dream was better. If I’m 100% honest, I thought I could fish and follow at the same time.

Faith can’t fish and follow at the same time.

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We have to remember that if God asks us to do a thing, He has already prepared the way. Satan, his schemes, and our own fears and misconceptions can stop us in our tracks. OR in my case, cause us to keep on doing that same old thing we were doing, rather than run freely toward the dream God has for us.

Remember those fears I had? Not a single fear I had was valid.

The truth was that I would have more time with my family because I wasn’t working multiple jobs.

The truth was that I could hear that still small voice asking me to trust that God is big enough to provide for me, and I didn’t need that second job to provide.

The truth is, no matter what others think of us or how we think we look to others, there is only one opinion that matters, and that’s God’s.

If you’re on the fence, afraid of the calling God has for you, don’t be. He has already prepared the way.

Cheering for you,

Karen

Shared by: Karen Sipps

                                      

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Karen Sipps

About Karen Sipps

Karen Sipps fell in love with writing when she was a little girl, but it would be a few decades before God would call her to write for Him. She is the creator of christianbedtimestories.com and the author of More Than Sales: Seeking God’s Heart for your Direct Sales Business.  Her blog Karen Sipps Writes is a chronicle of her walk with Christ, through the good, the bad, and the ugly. (It also helps her avoid laundry and dishes.) Catch up with her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Comments

  1. Joanne ViolaJoanne Viola says

    October 9, 2017 at 6:38 am

    Wonderful post, Karen! This >> “I thought I could fish and follow at the same time.” We can only do one or the other. May we trust God and follow Him, knowing He always goes before us to prepare the way. Blessings!

    Reply
    • Karen SippsKaren Sipps says

      October 9, 2017 at 11:17 pm

      Thank you, Joanne, and to you!

      Reply
  2. AvatarMichele Morin says

    October 9, 2017 at 7:23 am

    Karen, I was impacted by the same line that got Joanne’s attention. Divided loyalty wears us out. I’m so glad you chose to share this particular story.

    Reply
    • Karen SippsKaren Sipps says

      October 9, 2017 at 11:19 pm

      Thanks for taking the time to comment, Michele! Sadly, that sentence took only a short time to write, but a few years to figure out. Thankfully, our God is patient. 😉

      Reply
  3. Avatarnylse says

    October 9, 2017 at 10:25 am

    I think we’ve all been there not learning from those who have gone before us. Divided loyalty wears us out until we wholeheartedly trust.
    This resonated; thanks.

    Reply
    • Karen SippsKaren Sipps says

      October 9, 2017 at 11:16 pm

      Thank you, Nylse, it sure does. And then when you finally break free you wonder what took you so long!

      Reply
  4. AvatarDonna Reidland says

    October 9, 2017 at 6:30 pm

    My husband experienced something similar when he felt God calling him into full time ministry. We were being blessed financially even more than ever. It was like God was allowing us to choose.

    Reply
    • AvatarAlice Walters says

      October 9, 2017 at 8:38 pm

      Do you sometimes wonder if free will is a blessing or a burden? For me, those are the times when God seems silent. That’s kinda where I am now. Hard to give in; hard to give up. Thanks for empathy and encouragement Sisters in Christ!

      Reply
  5. Avatargeneralkat says

    October 9, 2017 at 6:37 pm

    I have held on to a dream for three years. I dreamed of moving to be near my grandchildren who lived over 4 hours away. I felt confident that God wanted me to have a small vacation home there so I could bond with them while they were in their formative years. Unfortunately, my husband had no intention of having a vacation home. He loathed the country life where they lived and felt I was trying to leave him with a lot of work. He is a homebody and since I visited and vacationed two to three times a year, he felt I was avoiding him. I feel very discontent at the way this dream has gone, but I’m still intent on seeing my grandkids, bonding with them and enjoying time with their families. It is hard to know God’s will when I am so focused on what my desires and dreams are. I need to let go and allow the Lord to direct my steps and listen to His small, still voice. I now plan to drive up and stay only a week instead of two and give my husband the option of coming or not. Something may change in the future, but for now I am content to plan to see my grandkids enough to make sure they remember me! Your comment on how you were like Jonah in escaping from God’s call on his life, and found that only by obedience and trust you were able to find joy and contentment where you were at. Thanks so much.

    Reply
    • Karen SippsKaren Sipps says

      October 9, 2017 at 11:08 pm

      generalkat, I can tell you that all of my kids’ grandparents live out of town – hours away. Find something that is unique to you and bond over that thing. They’ll remember that no matter how often you see them in person. My daughter and her Papa have bonded over all things “Paris” – they speak with french accents and anytime she sees an Eiffel Tower, she buys it with her allowance money. With Nana, they bond over crafts. They’ll call and text sometimes too. My own Nana and I – I saw her once in my entire childhood – would write letters and shared a bond over all things unicorns. She introduced me to my first sticker book and we collected unicorn stickers together. Gosh, it’s almost 30 years later and I still have my sticker book, in pristine condition. I’ll be praying for you and your husband but just know that it’s how you make the children FEEL when you’re with them that sticks with them, no matter how long it’s been since they’ve seen you last. {{Hugs}}

      Reply
  6. Avatarmareedee2016 says

    October 11, 2017 at 8:42 pm

    Karen, What an honest inspiring post to be obedient. You write with such a fun flair, which helped me not start beating myself up for taking the long way to obedience. I too have stepped into waters I never intended but God said go. Of course I took the windy road. Blessings to you. Maree

    Reply

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