When I look at David’s story, I see a life full of ups and downs.  A giant slayer turns into a javelin dodger.  A killer of 200 Philistines turns to a groveling mad man.  Yet through the ups and downs there is an interesting pattern in David’s early life.  David was summoned from herding sheep by Samuel to be anointed future king.  Apparently David goes back to shepherding after that. The next time we hear about him, he is again “with the sheep.” This time he is called to soothe Saul’s spirit through his music.  Despite these two incredible experiences, David kept on shepherding his life away.  Then for the third time the Bible says he “left the sheep.” This time he is off to bring parched corn and other goodies to his brothers.  The man has the anointing of a king and is still herding sheep.  David was fulfilling his Right Now Calling.

Multiple times throughout my childhood people prophesied that God would use me at a “young and tender age.”  I do believe that, in some ways, these have been fulfilled.    But over the years I have had many wrong concepts about how, when, and why. Today I have fewer answers than ever.  But this excites me, because I am no longer limiting God to my finite plans.  As I continued to grow physically and spiritually, I wondered why it seemed that God wasn’t doing anything special with my life.  Doubts and fears raged like a western wildfire.  I now realize that God was maturing me spiritually; He was teaching and strengthening me in ways vital to my existence.  God is teaching me to chase lions so that one day I will laugh at giants.  It was, and still is, a process.  But not everything is merely preparation for a future event.  I have a Right Now Calling.

My Right Now Calling is simply this: To seek His face.  It is a slight, yet radical attitude change.  God has confirmed this to me over and over again.  No matter what happens I know who I am and what I am supposed to be doing: seeking His face.  It’s a Right Now Calling.  David said, “This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face” (Ps 24:6).  Late one Saturday night, lying in my bed, God used that scripture to reconfirm my Right Now Calling:  To be the generation that seeks Him.  Not “please let us be that generation” or “maybe some day we will rise to that status.”  Rather, “This is.”  It’s a radical change of attitude.  Interestingly, the next morning, the scripture reader read that Psalm.

I believe that you, too, have a Right Now Calling.  It may be a universal calling, like praying or witnessing.  But this is the bottom line:  it’s not something you will do tomorrow, but something you can do before you go to sleep tonight.  I believe everyone has a calling to fulfill today.  It’s your Right Now Calling.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.”  — Proverbs 3:5-6

As a little girl, I used to like to fish with my brothers… except for when my fishing line would get tangled. I would sit for many frustrating minutes — wasting my time, as I saw it — trying to untangle that mess. It seemed like the more I tried the worse the tangle became. Life can be like that. Complex!

Sometimes my questions are more than my answers, my month more than my money and my burdens more than my strength. My mind becomes wrapped in cares and tangled with vexing situations and try as I may I cannot get peace… until I do a little thing that I’ve learned along the way.  I wrote about it in a sort of poem one particularly memorable time.  My home was taken by fire that year, the day after Christmas, my marriage was crumbling and I was stumbling in a darkness I had never felt the likes of before.  Here is the poem:

Today I set aside all my worries and cares
For a few moments
I dropped all I was doing.
I stopped long enough to step down from this whirling ride of life,
And I left the crowds behind.
I walked and turned a few corners away from distraction.
My foot-steps made their way in the direction
From which I heard you calling all day long.
And you met me there.
And with tear stained eyes and raised hands
I lifted a praise from my lips
to the one who hung
Between this old world and the heaven of heavens
For me!
You’re always there when I call, always near when I cry.
Every time I’ve a need, you supply.
You’re faithful!
In your presence where refreshing winds blow
They dry my tears,
Calm my fears
Give me direction.
Come with me as we walk up a hillside
Though it’s a climb, it’s worth it,
You will see
I can hear His voice,
I will make the choice.
If you have sin, He forgives
If you are weak, He has strength
If you fear, He gives courage
If you are helpless, He brings security.

Are you confused and lonely, wondering and wandering, trying several paths, not knowing which is right? Do you wish you knew the outcome? Do you ask for direction but seem to get no answers? Does life seem mind boggling and complex? Let me reassure you, it is! But you’re not alone. It was like that for me too. You’re not alone! You may not know all the answers but you can know the One who does. You see, peace is not a thing. It is a person: the Person of Jesus Christ. Most of the answers you need to know will come in due time. Some answers you probably don’t even need. Life can be complex, but trust in the One who made life, who walks every step before you, and life will be much more enjoyable.