I Am Called...

…and so are you.

“Called” is my word of focus for 2022. Each year, I select one word that acts as a summary of the goal I want to achieve during those 365 days. I find that choosing only one word makes it easier to keep at the forefront of my decisions and also allows for a broader definition of achievement. I don’t stop working toward my goal because I reach some milestone. Rather, this word drives me throughout the year. There may be many moments of victory, and it usually isn’t something I can master in just that one year. Overall, it acts as a means to change my mindset and habits long-term. 

Oftentimes during the process of choosing my word, I reflect on the ways I’ve grown over the past year and also how I’ve fallen short. I usually ask myself questions like, “What is the area of your life that needs the most improvement?” or “In what way would God like to see you mature this year?”

Based on my answers to these and other questions, I usually find that a theme surfaces. From there, I pick a word that encompasses that theme and speaks the most meaning to me. That way, each time I want to review my goal, it is easily remembered and accessible by just thinking of my one word.

But, this year was different. This year I didn’t choose my word. Rather, God gave it to me.

For quite a few years now, I have felt God’s gentle pull asking me to follow His plans for my life. At first, it was very vague. I could tell that He had something in mind, but the specifics were so out of reach. Thus, being the thinker I am, I tried drawing my own conclusions. 

I thought I could find success by participating in a beauty pageant - and hopefully winning. I thought I could find success by becoming an on-air sports journalist - and rising in fame. Now, this is the part where we can all have a little chuckle. Because if you know me, then you know I have tried but accomplished neither of those things. And you know what? That is perfectly okay. 

Because, God, being the God He is, didn’t just allow me to walk my own dreamed up path without using it for good and to further establish my true purpose. Through the detours of pursuing titles and fame, He revealed some of the talents I never knew I had and He reminded me that I care about people and I care about Him even more. 

And above all, He taught me one very important lesson: Although some people are meant to win beauty pageants and be on-air personalities, you don’t need to be famous to change the world. For the means by which humans define success do not always align with God’s calling for your life. 

As soon as I heard and adopted that truth, God’s whisperings, once vague, began to grow louder. 

Very specific ideas on how to use my talents and skills started coming to me. For the longest time, I dismissed them as yet more strayed ideas from my own head. But as much as I pushed them away, they kept coming back. As I started to entertain them, I realized that these were much different than the other ideas I came up with. Those were glorifying me, focused on my success and what kind of platform that could get me. But these new ideas? These were taking my gifts and using them to bring joy to others and to point back to God.

And that’s how I knew: These weren’t my ideas. These were God’s ideas. Now, you think I would just be smart and start following what He says, especially since I had been pondering my purpose for so long. But, being the imperfect human I am, I didn’t. 

For the last couple of years, when God would remind me of these ideas, I would immediately say, “No.”I was terrified of failure, judgment and a saturated creative space. I was hook, line and sinker believing the lies of this world and of my limitations. And if I’m going to be honest, there is so much of me that is still terrified. But something happened that made me realize that this isn’t about me, and that I am worthy of being used by God. 

At the end of 2021, I was nominated and elected by lot to serve as part of my church’s leadership. At about this same time of year, is when I like to start brainstorming my word of focus for the next year. Well, this time around, I had nothing for 2022. I thought of a few themes that could work, but nothing gave me that, “Yep. This is it.” feeling.

So, the new year rolls around and I still don’t have my word. I’m even to the point where I thought maybe this would be the year that I break my tradition and just see what happens. Well, it really is true that God’s timing is perfect.

It was January 9, 2022. That Sunday morning, the new church leadership was being ordained and installed into our positions for the next two years. During every morning worship service, there is always a time where we silently come before God with our sins and just lay them down at His feet. Sometimes, I fill this whole time with my own talking, because I know I messed up that week. Other times, God pulls other words out of me or even speaks truth over me. 

This particular Sunday, from the moment I closed my eyes to come before God, my mind was blank. I remember sitting there trying to form a word in my head, and it was impossible. It felt as if I had never learned any words at all. Soon, I knew exactly why He was preventing me from speaking. In the most clear delivery, God spoke these words to me:“Aubrynn, be still. I have called you to this place. Trust in me.”

Talk about getting hit with a ton of bricks. And right after those moments of silent prayer was when I was expected to get up in front of church and accept this new position. Although I felt honored and a sense of responsibility, my mind was so far from that place. 

Now, it could be easy to assume that God was referring specifically to this new church leadership role. And I’m sure that was included, but from the weight of how those words were placed on me, it was so evident that He was intending for it to go far beyond that.

In that moment, it became so crystal clear that God called ME to carry out these ideas. He called ME to use my gifts, experiences, passions and personality - all so carefully designed and uniquely crafted - to bring joy to this world and to shine the light on His name. 

So, just like that, my word of the year was born. Not by my choosing or wisdom, but by God’s.

And, friends, just as I am called, so are you. There is a purpose for each one of us, and He is just eagerly waiting to reveal it to you.

If, right now, you are confused on where to go next, let me comfort you with this:

We are all called to follow Jesus and believe His Gospel story.

We are all called to live by the Fruits of the Spirit.

We are all called to be Fishers of Men. 

We are all called to be uniquely crafted for our passions and purpose.

So, start there and allow God to take you on a journey to living your best life - the one for which you were created.