Have you ever felt that you were different?  That you do not fit in? That you are walking in a shadow of something looming ahead, but yet unseen? These very ‘senses’ could very well be that God is calling you. Billy Graham spoke about God’s calling in a way that most have not considered. When God calls a person into His service, He presses in on our spirit. He presses out our pride, selfishness, ego, and convenience. A calling by God does not lift us up into a life of pleasure and ease, but into a long, hard, uncomfortable, and thorough holy exam.

The holy exam of our goals, desires, and hearts takes guts and perseverance. God refines our character in the fires of life, not necessarily in our comfort zone. In fact, His pressing feels like we are in a crowded room, and we are being crushed. The truth does, in fact, smash any self-sufficient tendency. When we surrender to His call, His Way becomes our way, by preference. Our Father’s Way carries a heavy weight, a burden that never goes away. It took Moses 40 years of intense pressing before he was able to stand on holy ground. There are no shortcuts. Jesus bore the immense weight of His calling with patient endurance. The burden to be of service may shift, evolve, and emerge differently from season to season, but it never departs. We are set apart and moved to lead when we feel like crumbling. We serve when nobody notices, and we plead in isolation so that others can receive the due celebration publically. We may question, “Why do I always feel so deeply responsible, and have to fight so hard?” The truth is that God never puts weight on someone who will not carry glory later. If you feel the calling is heavy, it is because what is coming is holy. Our assignments are not easy, our assignments are eternal. Our steps are ordered, but our path is NOT painless. Being favored by God does NOT protect us from tragedy or pain.

God’s favor carries the weight of responsibility. His favor is not a shield to protect us from suffering. With a refined character, we walk through fires like Daniel with dignity and expectancy. We TRUST God at His Word and hold tight to His promises. Our Father does NOT owe us a favor, or an explanation. Like Peter, there was no escape, just His QUIET assurance.