Afraid to be called

[changedbychrist]

Three years ago, I knew that God had called me to be a missionary. Skip ahead a year and I found myself at the bottom of my faith: I had been cutting, been abandoned (and unofficially kicked out of) the church here (it's a long story.), my parents were done with me, I was so confused about what the truth was when it came to the existence of a god and who He was, and had been claiming to be an atheist. Months later at church camp, God really revealed Himself to me in a very loving and personal way and my faith had been restored.
Lately though, I've been reminded of that calling three years ago, and I know that it's still what I'm meant to do. The problem? I graduate high school next year, and I'm still so weak in my faith. I don't talk about God or spread the gospel to anyone because maybe I'm still a little unsure myself. And that passion that I used to have is gone. I feel so beaten and afraid spiritually and mentally. I don't know if I'm ready to do what God has called me to do.
Another thing: my boyfriend says that because the Bible says that women cannot preach over men and that they should be quiet in the church means that they cannot be missionaries. But HOW do you explain this calling? I'm so confused....

 

[MsSuzanna]

Satan will do anything he can to keep you quiet and afraid and drained. He will also use anyone to do it! Your strength is in Christ! Take your authority in Christ and just do it sister! Get some tracts and some bibles at the dollar store and just go out and tell people about our precious savior Christ! God will hold you up! The more you go the more you are used! Go to seminary if you want to gain more knowledge. I pray that you will not let the enemy keep you down. You can write to me anytime and I will encourage you!! I think you are awesome! What a blessing to know at your age what God wants of you!! Praise the Lord! Hugs~

 

[Tinuviel]

If God has truly called you to the mission field, HE will prepare you, HE will strengthen your faith, in His perfect time.

 

[crosstweed]

Three years ago, I knew that God had called me to be a missionary. Skip ahead a year and I found myself at the bottom of my faith: I had been cutting, been abandoned (and unofficially kicked out of) the church here (it's a long story.), my parents were done with me, I was so confused about what the truth was when it came to the existence of a god and who He was, and had been claiming to be an atheist. Months later at church camp, God really revealed Himself to me in a very loving and personal way and my faith had been restored.
Lately though, I've been reminded of that calling three years ago, and I know that it's still what I'm meant to do. The problem? I graduate high school next year, and I'm still so weak in my faith. I don't talk about God or spread the gospel to anyone because maybe I'm still a little unsure myself. And that passion that I used to have is gone. I feel so beaten and afraid spiritually and mentally. I don't know if I'm ready to do what God has called me to do.
Another thing: my boyfriend says that because the Bible says that women cannot preach over men and that they should be quiet in the church means that they cannot be missionaries. But HOW do you explain this calling? I'm so confused....

The funny thing about faith is that it's like a muscle. The more you exercise it, the stronger is becomes. Hanging back in fear away from what you believe God is calling you to do will atrophy your faith, but taking steps to learn what and pursue the things that God has called you to do will grow it exponentially.

About that other thing... I know someone who got derailed from her calling to the mission field by a relationship that was outside of God's will for her, and eventually she backslid. She was eventually restored, but God told her that because she disobeyed Him and took that wrong road, He no longer wanted her to go to the mission field and was going to lead her down a different life calling. She believes strongly that this new calling will be a wonderful thing and very fulfilling, but she will always carry around that massive regret for the rest of her life that she missed God's plan for her on the mission field.

I'm not advising you to just jump into something that you're unsure of - pray about it lots - but if you know God has called you down a certain path, you can't let your boyfriend's opinion sway you. He is either going to have to walk with you as you follow God's will for your life, or he will have to take a different path.

Without female missionaries (many thousands of them single women), there would have been countless places in the world that wouldn't have heard the Gospel and literally millions of people would have never gotten saved. God called those women to His work and blessed His work through them. I can assure you that God most certainly does call women to be missionaries.

 

[Stephen63]

So much I wanna say, but I don't know if you're ready for it. Let's start with scripture:
Romans 11:25-29 (NLT)
[SUP]25 [/SUP]I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. [SUP]26 [/SUP]And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say, “The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem, and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness. [SUP]27 [/SUP]And this is my covenant with them, that I will take away their sins.” [SUP]28 [/SUP]Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. [SUP]29 [/SUP]For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.

The gentile christians were being taught that God would never let go of Israel & that His gifts & call of them cannot be revoked.

The Lord will do as much for you as well because as a gentile you have been grafted into the vine.

It will be tough at first, but as long as you hold on to God, He will make good on His promises.

Numbers 23:19 (NASB)
[SUP]19 [/SUP]"God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

The main thing for you to do is commit yourself to the Lord, & make good on that commitment..... He will do the rest. Don't worry about your call..... relationship is always first. Pray. Study the scriptures. Ask God to manifest His love in you. Pray for knowledge & understanding.

And finally..... if your boyfriend won't accept who you are & won't walk with you, he needs to go. God will give you the strength to go on & give you who you need as a mate. He will take care of you.

Ephesians 3:14-21 (NASB)
[SUP]14 [/SUP]For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, [SUP]15 [/SUP]from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, [SUP]16 [/SUP]that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, [SUP]17 [/SUP]so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [SUP]18 [/SUP]may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, [SUP]19 [/SUP]and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. [SUP]20 [/SUP]Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, [SUP]21 [/SUP]to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

As far as another calling due to your backsliding, don't believe it unless He tells you Himself..... neither my words or anyone else's will do. The Lord wants this relationship to work, & He will personally minister to all your needs as you call upon Him.

 

[wwjd_kilden]

Just curious:

- What is it that made you experience God calling you to be a missionary?
(I really am curious, I've never had any clear, obvious callings from God, so to me it feels strange when people say this)

- What do you picture being a missionary is like?
(You don't HAVE to go to the ends of the earth and preach to thugs, you can start with school / work/ neighbours)

 

[Ariel82]

First thing that happened to Jesus after He was baptized and before He began His preaching was that He was tempted by Satan after 40 days in the desert.

Pray, seek God and He will heal you.

Read your bible, find some godly,men and women to mentor and pray with you. Learn about the armor of God and pray some more.
.God will equip you for the work He calls you to.

You are not alone.

 

[Fran123]

But I don't get it, her boyfriend is right about us not preaching and keeping silent in church, isn't he?

 

[Ariel82]

But I don't get it, her boyfriend is right about us not preaching and keeping silent in church, isn't he?

Depends on who you ask and which demonination your church belongs too.

However that verse does not apply to missionary work.

Women throughout the Bible testified and proclaimed the,gospel to people.

There is Anna at the temple, the woman at the well, Mary at the tomb and many more examples.

One of the things that shocked people about Jesus is,His kindness to both women and children to allow them to sit at,His feet and listen to His sermons.


Many,other religions have a caste system,,where they think men are spiritually better than women, but Paul says we are all equal under Christ, gentle or jew, male or female.

 

[Fran123]

Sometimes its like the bible takes both sides of every argument

 

[Ariel82]

You have to read it all in context...

Too often people misquote the Bible to prove,their point.


The ones that get me are those people who quote Job's friend to condemn people....when God tells us they were WRONG and their words sinful and misrepresenting who,God was.

 

[Colt45Bullet]

He is right about not preaching, but you can be a Missionary. Lottie Moon is a great example. Look her up some time.

 

[pelicano]

God can work in, with, and through anyone who is willing to serve Him. Did you know that the first evangelist was a woman? Yes. Mary Magdalene was the first to share the good news that Jesus had risen from the dead to the disciples.
Do not let anything hold you back from what God has called you to do. I sense a really good heart in you, and I believe you should be obedient to what God is telling you to do.

 

[cinder]

Three years ago, I knew that God had called me to be a missionary. Skip ahead a year and I found myself at the bottom of my faith: I had been cutting, been abandoned (and unofficially kicked out of) the church here (it's a long story.), my parents were done with me, I was so confused about what the truth was when it came to the existence of a god and who He was, and had been claiming to be an atheist. Months later at church camp, God really revealed Himself to me in a very loving and personal way and my faith had been restored.
Lately though, I've been reminded of that calling three years ago, and I know that it's still what I'm meant to do. The problem? I graduate high school next year, and I'm still so weak in my faith. I don't talk about God or spread the gospel to anyone because maybe I'm still a little unsure myself. And that passion that I used to have is gone. I feel so beaten and afraid spiritually and mentally. I don't know if I'm ready to do what God has called me to do.
Another thing: my boyfriend says that because the Bible says that women cannot preach over men and that they should be quiet in the church means that they cannot be missionaries. But HOW do you explain this calling? I'm so confused....

You don't have to be ready to move to the other side of the world tomorrow to be obedient to God's call to be a missionary. There is so much to it, and it is incredibly hard (and incredibly rewarding). Just be ready and willing to do the next thing: serve, study your Bible, develop skills you may need. Decide some of the practical things, like if you want to raise support and be mainly involved in direct religious work, or if you want to take a job in a country that just doesn't have many Christians in it. One of the most practical things you can do, learn to teach English because you'll pretty much always be asked to teach it. Being a missionary doesn't mean you have to lead a church or preach to gatherings. I personally know several wonderful ladies who have dedicated their lives to mission work and the fruit of there lives is good fruit for the kingdom. God is using them, and no super literal interpretation of the Bible can change that fact. But you will probably be constantly facing the challenge of having to prove yourself and your calling much more than men doing the same thing will. I explain your calling by saying that your boyfriend's interpretation of the scripture is pharisaically limiting and probably as accurate about God as the Pharisees were.

As to weak faith, I'm learning that strong faith doesn't mean you're always up and happy and everything is going well with you. Strong faith has a whole lot more to do with trusting God enough to do the right thing even when it means things will be more difficult for you and sticking by God when everything seems to be going wrong. And sometimes the most effective witness isn't being sure, but being real and being there to care for someone who's going through a whole lot of crap. Having been through so much yourself, you might be in a much better position to care for and understand struggling people than someone who appears very spiritual.