Close your eyes and put yourself in this situation…

You’re out to dinner with your dearest friend at your favorite restaurant spot. The appetizer just arrived and you are about to devour it, ready to savor every bite as you’ve been waiting patiently all day for it. You bring your fork to your mouth, about to get what you so desperately have been awaiting, when your phone vibrates. You are aware that someone is calling you but you are given two choices…  Do you answer the phone, despite your current circumstance? Or, do you ignore it and return the call later? 

For some, the need to answer that call immediately is required. Maybe it’s FOMO. Maybe we were raised to do so. Maybe we are so connected to our phones we couldn’t imagine another option. For others (this is the camp I tend to fall into), we are okay with calling back. If it’s urgent, they’ll text, I’ve been known to say. Being fully present in the moment may be more important or, maybe we are just those people who don’t feel the phone buzzing in our purse. 

While there isn’t a right or wrong in this situation, when God calls, we should be prepared and willingly ready to answer.

Ring, Ring… God’s Calling

We’d all like to say when God calls, we answer… but it’s not as easy as picking up the phone during the middle of a night out. His callings aren’t always as direct and, if we’re being honest, discernment on identifying who the caller is isn’t… well… easy peasy. 

Before going much further into this topic, let’s get crystal clear on the difference between purpose and calling. 

There are some things all of us are called to. 

That phone call God is making to us is to US specifically, so when it feels like a change… and a big one… know that it’s God ready to use our talents, gifts and circumstances for Him. Thank goodness we know that He has a plan, right?!

The Broken & Beautiful Podcast livestream, Change of Calling, highlights the feelings (worry and excitement and everything in between) that show up when we feel like the call we are getting from God is a bit out of left field. You mean you want me to do what?! But I’m comfortable here! (Surely we aren’t the only ones who’ve ever thought that!)

To help learn how we can embrace our change of calling from God, we looked to Priscilla’s story found primarily in Acts 18. Below are some Scripture verses that were the basis for the discussion. Also, here are a few other passages to explore: Romans 16:3-4, 1 Corinthians 16:19 and 2 Timothy 4:19.

There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.

Acts 18:2-3

Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken. They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

Acts 18:18-19

Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

Acts 18:24-26

So… what can we learn about change of callings by studying Priscilla’s story that models just that? Here are some of my favorite takeaways. 

• Co-Workers in Ministry: Paul met Priscilla and her husband, Aquila, in Corinth in his second missionary journey. Both were already church leaders; in fact, Paul references them as co-workers in ministry! They were also tentmakers, too. 
• A Heart of Hospitality: Paul stayed with them in their home for 18 months while he worked alongside them. Priscilla and Aquila tended to be very hospitable people, opening their homes up for Christians regularly. In fact, they had a church that met in their home! 
• Open to Anything: When Paul’s mission took him to Ephesus, they went and carried out the work to grow the church there. In fact, I got the impression they were eager to go and do whatever the ministry needed. 

And, if you notice in most of Paul’s mention of the couple, Priscilla’s name comes first which may signify her strong role in their ministry. Who knows! Priscilla’s story leaves me with three practical ways we can look at changes in callings we may experience.