When does a job not feel like a job?

Simple — when you know it to be a calling.

One of the biggest secrets to making the most of your formative college years is allowing God the space to speak to you — about you.

How you were designed and gifted.

How you were infused with passion — for something.

How you — and your gifts, talents, and passions — can make a difference in the world.

Yes, finding that place where your unique gifting and passion can bring blessing and relief to those who hurt and struggle in our world — that is where you will find your sweet spot. The place where you feel most alive, most used and useable, and most like you’re doing what you were created to do. This is the place God is calling you to.

No, this doesn’t mean that you’ll always be super excited to get out of bed and go to work, or that you won’t experience challenges with those you work with…

But it will bring you a level of assurance — that you are doing exactly what you are called to do — when times inevitably get tough.

Does your current major, or course of study, fit into this? It should. So if it doesn’t, you may want to begin to pray about that — and see how God leads.

What’s the alternative? you might be wondering.

Well, it might include a more sizable income, a more controllable path, a more comfortable destination… maybe. But it might also entail the lack of a sense of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment in what you do.

And God is giving you the chance to choose — between a job and calling.

Too many people opt for the job. You don’t have to look far to see these people. They’re pulling in a paycheck, but they’re not happy, they’re not content. They lack that sense of purpose that brings with it meaning and fulfillment.

But when you encounter someone who feels called to their work — you’ll never forget them. It doesn’t matter what industry they work in, or what size of paycheck they bring in every month — the joy and passion with which they work is magnetic. And the sense of fulfillment that they seem to derive from their work is abundantly apparent.

And when you hold these two up — side-by-side — there’s really no comparison.