Calling: That Uniquely Personal Divine Tug

Published: April 13, 2021

Cassandra Olson '10 experienced the "fuzzy" gray areas of call and worked her way through them to understand that God's call is not one-size-fits-all. Here's her story.

Never in a million years would I have dreamed that God had called me on this path. As family will attest, I ALWAYS wanted to be a lawyer, and I was going to change the world. The second part still applies though the first does not. When I first applied to GC, God had called me to ministry, but I wasn't yet sure. Thus, I applied to a school that had both ministry degrees and pre-law options.

Before ever setting foot on campus, I had given up my dream to follow God's great plan for my life.

Through four challenging and refining years, I met people who lived out community and professors who truly believed that all work is God's work. Because of this message, I grew to love working for the sake of work, and I learned "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord." (Colossians 2:23).

Less than a year after graduation, I struggled, as many do, with finding work in my field of study and calling. After researching and applying time after time, I felt God's tug to continue furthering my education.

Little did I know that God was going to thrust a small town Illinois girl into the great state of Texas to study at a conservative seminary. But after much prayer and discussion with family, I resolved to follow God on the next step of this journey and enroll in Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

While here, I have had the greatest triumphs and seen God work in amazing ways. I learned to embrace cultures far different from mine, and now I've met my fianc with whom I get to serve God alongside everyday. I have learned to be joyful while waiting tables or caring for young children. Most of all, I have seen God move in mighty ways.

The call to ministry is as unique as the individuals who are called. My calling was what I fondly refer to as a "brick wall" moment. God let me run into a figurative brick wall. Then, he sat me down and laid out the next step of His plan. Each year, I learn just another step of His calling for my life as well as His work in the lives of those around me. Just when I think I have in figured out, He shows me that He isn't quite. Stepping out in faith to follow God's call wherever it may lead will always grow you and shake your faith. Often, we are like Abraham, going simply because God said to, not because we know the end of the line. But it is truly worth the journey every time.

Ministry is not the only field that God calls people to. Though I have this calling in my life, mine is a dual calling. I have also been called to work in a non-ministry job alongside. Both types are equally valuable. In my ministry role, I have the opportunity to equip others to do God's work. In my non-church role, I have the opportunity to do God's work.

GC Vision: We inspire our students to embrace God's call. Go here to tell us your story about embracing God's call, and here to view our collection.

Photo credit: Duccio Di Buoninsegna. Calling of Peter and Andrew. 1308. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Web 24 July 2011 Web 1 May 2017