Daniel Im's Blog, page 9

Why Micro Goals Are Better than Resolutions

Stop setting New Year’s resolutions. They’re too vague, too lofty, too idealistic, and nearly impossible to accomplish.

In fact, studies have shown that after 30 days, less than 25% of people stay committed to them, while only 8% will actually accomplish them.

So what’s the better way? What do you need to do to make this next year a year of progress, development, growth, and impact? The answer is to abandon your resolutions and adopt micro goals instead.

Abandon your resolutions and adopt micro goals.
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I’m not talking about S.M.A.R.T. goals, which if you’re not aware of the topic, I’d highly recommend you listen to this episode to learn more and download the template.

I’m talking about micro goals, where you break your S.M.A.R.T. goals down into small and immediately actionable tasks. This is the only sure-fire way to accomplish your greatest dreams.

Let me give you two examples: working out and writing a book.

1. Working Out

After moving back to Canada last year, the one thing that I knew I had to change was my exercise routine. For my entire adult life, I’ve never been able to figure out how to work out more than twice a week—if I even went at all. And with my metabolism slowing down (and love for food increasing), I had to crack this code.

Enter: Micro Goals.

I joined a gym on the way to work. I then made the personal resolve that I wasn’t allowed to go into work until I first worked out. To make this realistic and achievable because of my workload, the goal was a 30 minute workout every workday. I also had to make sure not to schedule any early morning breakfast meetings. And since I’m a night owl, I had to make sure that my gym bag was always packed the night before, so that I couldn’t make any excuses in the morning.

That’s it. It’s that simple. The genius of the micro goal is its simplicity and size.

The genius of the micro goal is its simplicity and size.
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And several months into this new rhythm, I can confidently say that I’ve cracked the code. Obviously I’ve missed days, but overall, I’ve never felt stronger, fitter, healthier, or sharper than today—and it’s all because of these micro goals.

2. Writing a Book

In less than one month, my third book will hit the stores. It’s called You Are What You Do: And Six Other Lies about Work, Life, and Love. It’s simultaneously frightening and exciting to await the release of this concept that’s taken two years to ideate, develop, write, edit, produce, print, and release.

Two whole years.

I’ve discovered writing books is not for the faint of heart. Nor is it for someone who gets bored easily. And since most of us are procrastinators by nature—including yours truly—micro goals were the only way that I was able to get this project complete.

Once I set a deadline to write the book proposal, I created a series of micro goals to make sure that each section in the book proposal had a due date. Once I signed the contract with my publisher and agreed on a delivery date, I created a system whereby each chapter got written through a series of micro goals that I had to accomplish.

Opening up a fresh word document with a blinking cursor is daunting. However, checking off a series of micro goals isn’t. So instead of focusing on the end goal of a finished chapter (which takes weeks) or a finished book (which takes years), I focused on the task immediately in front of me (which takes hours)—the micro goal.

What can you do to break down your greatest dreams into easily accomplishable micro goals? Micro goals and micro tasks that will take minutes and hours, rather than weeks and years?

Launch Team Application for My New Book

I can’t believe it, but the book that I’ve been working on for the last two years is finally here, and I’m looking for help getting the word out.

We only have 100 spots available, so I’d be honored if you would consider joining the launch team for my next book, You Are What You Do: And Six Other Lies about Work, Life, and Love.

If selected, you’ll receive a free paperback copy of the book once it’s released, a copy of the ebook to read early, and a free downloadable poster.

Here’s the application form. Thanks for considering!

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A Lonely Christmas

Every year, classics like The Grinch, Elf, and Home Alone make their rounds in homes decorated with tinsel and Christmas cheer.

And while nostalgia might be the primary reason we have these films on repeat, many of us don’t often take the time to examine how these story lines might be shaping us.

Let’s take Home Alone as an example.

Beyond the laughs, gags, and slapstick comedy, have you ever considered the underlying narrative that this movie is trying to communicate?

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not about to boycott Christmas movies—they are some of my favorite films. But there’s a big difference between watching them with a discerning eye and passively letting them shape our minds and hearts.

Underneath it all, Home Alone is celebrating and shining the spotlight on the age old lie of self-sufficiency.

Just consider the fact that Kevin McAllister decides to take on the two cat burglars himself. He doesn’t call for help. Instead, he takes matters into his own hands and outsmarts the burglars. Remember how he put a life size cutout of Michael Jordan on a train? And a mannequin on the record player? Genius.

And even later on when the cat burglars realize that Kevin is all by himself, Kevin still decides that he’s the king of his castle and the master of his own destiny.

If you’re interested in digging deeper, you can watch the sermon that I preached on this movie here to see how the parable of the rich man is a fascinating response to this age old lie of self-sufficiency.

But here’s the thought regarding self-sufficiency that I want to leave you with: Isolation is the end result of disconnection.

Isolation is the end result of disconnection.
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I love how King Solomon puts it, “One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound wisdom” (Prov. 18:1).

The more disconnected and isolated we become, the more we’ll turn inward and grow obsessed with ourselves.

I wonder if this is what happened with Kevin McAllister in Home Alone? He became so disconnected and isolated from others in his family, that all he could think about was himself—and how life would be better if everyone just disappeared.

Everyone in this family hates me. I don’t want a new family. I don’t want any family. Families suck. I don’t want to see you again for the rest of my whole life. And I don’t want to see anyone else either.

Let’s stop believing the lie of self-sufficiency because isolation is the end result of disconnection. Or to put it another way, the end result of self-obsession is isolation. So the more disconnected and isolated we become, the more we’ll turn inward and grow obsessed with ourselves.

In Chapter 3 of my newest book, You Are What You Do: And Six Other Lies about Work, Life, and Love, I elaborate on this idea further when breaking down the lie, “You are who you know.” Here’s an excerpt:

The more disconnected and isolated you become, the more you’ll turn inward and grow obsessed with yourself. Eventually, my current needs, my future needs, and my contingent what-if needs, will be all that you can think of. Even when you’re “helping” others, it will always be in view of what you can get out of it, or for that time when they can pay you back. And instead of recognizing and being grateful for the role that others have played in your life, you will reframe and reinterpret reality through the lens of me, myself, and I.

This is how it happens. After getting a promotion, you begin thinking to yourself, I got this because I deserved it, rather than recognizing the role your boss and teammates played. Or after receiving an admissions letter, you begin saying to yourself, Wow, all those years of hard work paid off, instead of being grateful for the sacrifices that your parents made, and the role that your teachers and mentors had in your education.

It’s a vicious cycle.

The more you turn inward and reinterpret the past through this self-centered obsessive way, the more disconnected you’ll become. And the more you disconnect from others, the more you’ll see life through the lens of giving and taking. Your relationships with others will turn into meaningless consumeristic transactions. And instead of viewing life with an abundance mind-set, you’ll begin seeing everything through the lens of scarcity. Instead of living a life of generosity, you’ll scrape by with greed. And on and on it goes.

The more you disconnect from others, the more you’ll see life through the lens of giving and taking.
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Friends, stop letting this lie of self-sufficiency seep into your heart and mind. Because when we believe the lie that we are the king of our castle, the master of our own destiny, and in full control of all things, we’ll get the consequence we deserve: we’ll end up alone—home alone.

If you would like to dig deeper…

…and examine the seven lies that so many of us have come to believe about work, life, and love, be sure to pick up a copy of my newest book, You Are What You Do: And Six Other Lies about Work, Life, and Love.

The Tension of Not Having “Enough”

These last couple of weeks, the following lyrics have been playing on repeat.

So let all that I am
Be consumed with who You are
All the glory of Your presence
What more could I ask for?

The phrase, “What more could I ask for?” is such an apt phrase to describe the tension that December holds.

Everywhere we look—especially since we’re in the throes of Black Friday, Bright Friday, Cyber Monday, Happy Tuesday, or whatever it’s called now—we are being conditioned to believe that we don’t have enough. Even this past week, I went online to make sure that I didn’t “miss” any deals. And after browsing for a bit, I ended up buying batteries on Amazon because they were 30% off.

Everywhere we look, we are being conditioned to believe that we don’t have enough.
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Did I really need them? Perhaps in a month or so, but definitely not now…

When we are consumed with the glory of God’s presence, there is nothing more we need. There is nothing more we have to ask for.

When we are consumed with the glory of God’s presence, there is nothing more we need.
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That little voice inside that says we don’t have enough will fade away because our God is a good Father! When we ask for bread, He doesn’t give us stones. When we are consumed with the glory of God’s presence, everything else fades in comparison, since Jesus is enough.

He is MORE than enough.

Is this true for you? Or do you feel that tension of not having “enough?”

If so, take a few minutes to read through these passages and worship our King of Kings and Lord of Lords with this song, “With You.”

“Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add one moment to his life-span by worrying? And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you — you of little faith? So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat? ’ or ‘What will we drink? ’ or ‘What will we wear? ’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:25-34 CSB)

“Our Father in heaven,
your name be honored as holy.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one. (Matt 6:9-13 CSB)

Whose Responsibility is it to Recruit?

A few weekends ago I met one of our volunteers who was operating the stage camera.

As I got to know him, I was surprised that it was his first time serving at Beulah—after attending for 23 years!

Oftentimes because of the pace of ministry, and a lack of contributors, leaders, coaches, and ministry catalysts, we end up doing ministry, rather than equipping our church to do the work of ministry. We do this because it’s easy. We know how to get things done. We have the responsibility for the ministry and it’s sometimes just faster to get it done ourselves.

However, here’s the catch-22. The more we do the ministry, the less time we’re going to have to equip our church to do the work of ministry, which then unintentionally creates a culture of professionalism where our church doesn’t think there’s a place for them to serve!

The more we do the work of ministry, the less time we have to equip.
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The responsibility of recruiting volunteers is NOT all on you.

In fact, the only people that you have the direct responsibility in recruiting are those at your level on the leadership pipeline, or one level underneath. Other than that, you need to be a part of cultivating this culture of recruiting on your team and the teams that you’re serving on.

The responsibility of recruiting volunteers is NOT all on you.
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Now you might be wondering, “What about contributors and leaders? What about guys like Mike? Who is the best person to recruit guys like him?”

It’s other contributors and leaders. The best person to recruit a contributor is another contributor. The best person to recruit a leader is another leader. The best person to recruit a coach is another coach. And the best person to recruit a ministry catalyst is another ministry catalyst. This is how a leadership pipeline functions best.

So this week, what would it look like if you asked each of your contributors, leaders, coaches, and ministry catalysts to identify a friend or someone else in the church who can serve alongside them in the same role?

A Vision to Reach 1% of a City

Our vision is to reach 1% of Edmonton.

I know it doesn’t seem like a B.H.A.G. (big hairy audacious goal) or a W.I.G. (wildly important goal), but it’s the specific vision that God has given our church.

And reaching this vision in Edmonton—through Beulah Alliance Church—is the very thing that God broke my heart over as Christina and I were discerning our calling to move back to Edmonton. You can read about our story in these two posts:

The Most Important Question When Discerning Your Next StepsThe Difference Between an Opportunity and a Calling



But why Edmonton?

I used to think that Edmonton was the “Bible Belt” in Canada—if there was even such a thing—because of the number of churches and megachurches here. But when we were candidating to come back to Edmonton, God showed us otherwise. On the one hand, he showed us the spiritual dynamics that have changed (and are changing) in this city—making it a mission field. On the other hand, based on the recent Vital Signs report, it’s clear that the rapid growth and change in our city is going to necessitate an increase in healthy, multiplying, missional churches. Here are a few statistics:

Edmonton grew by close to 200,000 people in the last 10 years, making the city’s population 972,22353% of the city is a millennial, Gen Z, or younger—making the median age 35.74 in 10 of Edmontonians are a visible minority—this is more than a 100% increase in the last decade

So reaching 1% of any city that’s growing and changing is actually quite a dynamic vision statement.

This is why we’re hiring an Executive Pastor of Ministries.

I’m looking for a partner in ministry who will join us in leading our ministry staff to equip our church to reach 1% of Edmonton for Christ. While strategic leadership, staff development, and organizational development are the three key areas that this individual will focus on, I’m first and foremost praying for someone who senses a call to lay down roots in Edmonton and reach this city for Christ.

…because God is calling us to reach 1% of Edmonton for Christ! And 1% is only a starting point!

I’m not looking for a preacher or someone who wants to be a senior pastor someday. I’m looking for someone who is called to lead from the second chair, and who is excited about joining an executive leadership team that lives, breathes, and eats this vision to reach our city for Christ.

If you’re interested (or know someone who might be), you can learn more about our church and check out the job description here.

Why Guilt is a Cheap Motivator

Sharing my faith was the last thing I felt equipped to do.

As a first year student in university, I knew that there was something called the Great Commission, but I didn’t know what to do with it. So after looking through all the Christian clubs listed online, I decided to join Campus Crusade for Christ, since they were all about evangelism (it’s now called Power to Change in Canada, or Cru in the U.S.).

That first year was incredible and I owe so much of my spiritual formation to that ministry. I learnt how to share my faith, I was filled with the Holy Spirit, I saw multiple people give their lives to Christ, and I went on a mission trip where I met my wife, Christina.

Everything was perfect, except for the fact that I was doing it all out of guilt.

At some point that I don’t remember, things shifted and I realized that I began sharing my faith with others because I felt like I had to, not out of a joy that I got to.

I wasn’t introducing people to Jesus because God loved them, I was doing it because I wanted God to love me more. And I was afraid that if I missed an opportunity to share Jesus with a stranger, that somehow it would be my fault if they went to hell. After all, what if they never met another Jesus loving, Jesus believing person again?

Honestly, I can’t pinpoint the moment I started to believe these lies, but I know that I didn’t get it from this ministry.

In fact, the scary thing was that I began looking down on others who weren’t actively sharing their faith on a weekly basis. I started thinking things like, “How can you live with yourself?! What if these people got hit with a bus and died tonight!”

And thoughts like this would run through my mind, “You don’t want to go on a mission trip in the summer?!” “Ugh, how could you be so self centred!”

I was suffering with the classic older brother syndrome from the Prodigal Son story. I thought that by DOING more for God, I would BE more loved by Him. That by DOING more evangelism, I would BE more accepted. And that by DOING more, I would BE more.

Have you ever thought that by doing more for God, you would be more loved by him?
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Have you ever been there? Have you ever thought this?

Unfortunately, motivation doesn’t translate as naturally as action.

Let me explain. Have you ever caught yourself yelling at your kids to stop yelling? I know I have.

My motivation for yelling at them was good. I wanted to parent them well and raise them up to talk through their problems, rather than bulldozing and yelling to get their way.

But my actions didn’t communicate that. My actions basically said that yelling was okay if you really wanted to get your way, and if you were older and bigger than someone else.

And unfortunately, this is what happens in the church.

Our motivation for wanting others to share their faith, give their lives away, and serve is good, isn’t it? We know that following Christ is not just about knowing the life he lived, it’s about living the life he lived.

Following Christ is not just about knowing the life he lived, it’s about living the life he lived.
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So, with the right motivation, we do whatever we can to get others to live this way because if they do, they’ll experience the abundant life that Christ promised…right?!

So, we guilt people into sharing their faith and serving by saying things like:

“If Jesus did it, shouldn’t you?”“What kind of follower are you, if you don’t follow the person you said you were going to?”“Yeah obviously you get to do it, but honestly you really have to do it.”“Uhh….don’t you realize how much Jesus talked about it?” “Tsk tsk tsk…”“It’s too bad…you really are missing out.”“Look at all the ways I’m sharing my faith and serving others…wait, you’re not??”

Just like in marriage, the right thing done the wrong way is the wrong thing no matter how right it is.

The right thing done the wrong way is the wrong thing no matter how right it is.
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In other words, guilting people to share their faith, serve, and follow Christ is wrong—no matter what the outcome might be. It’s cheap. It’s trite. And it’s ineffective.

Guilt is a cheap motivator.

Guilt is a cheap motivator.
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The alternative—or the better way to motivate—is outlined in Ephesians 3:16-21.

I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Do you see what’s happening here?

Who is the one that’s strengthening you? Jesus.

What is he strengthening you with? The riches of his glory.

Where is he strengthening you? In your inner being through his Spirit.

And what’s the result of him strengthening you?

Is it so that you would serve more effectively? So that you would 100x your output? So that you would break whatever barrier you’re wanting to break? So that you can get on some top 100 list?

Nope.

It’s so that Christ may dwell in your hearts. So that you would be rooted and firmly established in love. So that you would comprehend the length, width, height, and depth of God’s love. And so that you would know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fulness of God.

In other words, we don’t share our faith, serve, and follow Christ because we have to. We do it because we get to.

We do it because of Christ’s incredible love poured out upon us.

We share our faith and serve not to do, but because Christ has done.

We share our faith and serve not to do, but because Christ has done.
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We share our faith and serve not to become, but because Christ says be still, I love you.

Now that’s a different—and far superior—motivator than guilt.

Best Resources on Transition

Are you praying about making a move? Trying to discern God’s will, but not sure how to decide?

Change is the one thing that’s constant in life. And as I recently outlined in my last two articles, Christina and I have gone through a lot of change!

The Most Important Question When Discerning Your Next StepsThe Difference Between an Opportunity and a Calling

So, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite resources on transition to help you discern your next step in life and leadership:

1. Bible and Journaling

The Holy Spirit is the ultimate guide. So the best way to position yourself to hear from God is by spending time reading and praying through the Bible. Although I haven’t always been the biggest fan of journaling, I’ve actually found that it’s helped me focus and process what’s going on. After all, moving and changing jobs is one of the most stressful transitions that no one talks about.

And here’s a #protip for journaling: Journaling isn’t about you and the journal. Journaling is about you and God. So when you journal, write down your prayers to God and process what’s going on as a prayer to God.

Journaling is about you and God, so process what’s going on as a prayer to God.
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Christina and I are loving our He Reads Truth and She Reads Truth Bibles. They’re incredible. Y’all have to check it out:

He Reads Truth BibleShe Reads Truth Bible



2. Weeds Among the Wheat

My college pastor gave me this book when I was first learning about discernment, and I’ve found myself returning to it again and again. It’s Weeds Among the Wheat by Thomas H. Green. Though I’m not a Catholic, I’ve found this book incredibly helpful. It’s given me a solid framework to know how to deal with my emotions during decision making.

3. The Next Right Thing

This is my new favorite book on decision making. It’s Emily P. Freeman’s book, The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions. I wrote about it in one of my previous articles so I won’t belabor the point here.

4. 5 Tips to Help You Thrive Your Next Transition

In Episode 71 of the IMbetween Podcast that I co-host with Christina, we talk about five things we’ve learned after moving 9 times to 3 different countries and 7 different cities—while experiencing both homelessness and unemployment.

You can listen here.

What are your favorite resources on transition?

Let’s talk! You can submit them in the comments below.

The Difference Between an Opportunity and a Calling

“That was the worst sermon you ever preached. Why are you even here? Just go back to Nashville.”

It’s true. I heard those words.

It happened when Christina and I were interviewing at Beulah Alliance Church this last year. As I shared last week, God had unsettled our hearts and led us to the point where we knew our next right thing was to go up to Edmonton and interview.

Now whether coming back to Beulah was just an opportunity or a calling, we weren’t certain of. All we knew was that the next right thing was to go to Edmonton. So that’s what we did. With an open heart and a deep desire to live our lives wholeheartedly for God—wherever, whenever, and doing whatever—we hopped on a plane and flew to Edmonton. After all, for as long as I can remember, this has been our family motto: “Lord, here I am. Lord, here we are.”

So we went. And it went well.

Thursday. Friday. Saturday. Interviews. Meet and greets. Meals. Everything went well. Incredibly well. Honestly, I don’t know if I could’ve planned it any better. So clearly this meant that God was saying yes, right? That He was opening up the opportunity for us to come back and help lead Beulah to accomplish its vision to reach 1% of greater Edmonton for Christ…right?

Isn’t that how God leads?

Didn’t someone say that a lack of obstacles is another sign for God’s leading? That if you’re in God’s plan, no man can be against you?

I hope you’re shaking your head and vehemently disagreeing with me because that last paragraph was 100% sarcasm.

In the Bible we see that trials and opposition are actually a good thing—and to some extent a matter of joy—because it’s one of the ways that God shapes our faith and matures us (James 1:2-4). We see this all throughout the Scriptures with Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, Paul, and the disciples.

Trials and opposition are actually a good thing—and to some extent a matter of joy.
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But if you look at it the other way, the presence of opposition doesn’t necessarily equate to God’s leading either.

So what is it? How does God lead?!

Discernment is not random, but it’s not science either. It’s a bit like watching an experienced musician play jazz. They’re not randomly hitting notes, nor are they playing from a blank slate. Instead, being well informed by a deep knowledge of theory, scales, and a large repertoire of music, they start every rehearsal and concert from a place of familiarity and experience.

Discernment is a bit like watching an experienced musician play jazz.
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In the same way, discerning God’s leading is not about randomly putting together a pros/cons list, or just going whatever direction you want to go—hoping that God will bless it. Instead, being well informed by a deep Biblical knowledge of how God has directed his people in the past, that He is a good Father, and that God is for us and not against us, we can approach every situation from a place of familiarity and experience.

And that’s when I heard those words.

After an incredible three days of interviewing and connecting with the staff team at Beulah, it was time for the first weekend service. It was Saturday night, and I was ready. It was the week before Easter, and I was preaching on the fact that Jesus is not only our Saviour, but that He is our King, which means that there is a heavenly kingdom, an anti-kingdom, and citizens on both sides.

And just as I was finishing up the sermon and getting ready to close, I heard those words, “That was the worst sermon you ever preached. Why are you even here? Just go back to Nashville.”

No, it wasn’t from the worship team and no one was heckling me either. Those were the words I heard in my head.

I wish I knew then, what I discovered a couple hours later, but I didn’t. Instead of immediately recognizing those words as flaming arrows from the evil one (Eph 6:16), I just heard them…and unfortunately, I believed them.

There’s a reason biblical community is a critical component to discernment and decision making.

It’s because we all have blind spots! And since it’s the same Holy Spirit that indwells all believers, God will often speak through someone else if your ears are plugged or blinders are up. So stop trying to make decisions in isolation. There’s a word for people who do that, and it’s not “wise.”

Stop trying to make decisions in isolation.
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After the service ended, Christina and I went out to dinner with two of the pastors (and their significant others). And frankly, after hearing what I heard at the end of the service, I didn’t want to. I just wanted to curl up into a ball and go back to Nashville, but we weren’t about to bail during this candidating weekend. So we went.

After finishing up dinner, I decided to turn the table on the interview and ask everyone to share their thoughts on the spiritual state of Beulah and Edmonton. And that’s when it happened. Like blinders being lifted off of a horse, or a cloak coming off of my head, I finally recognized that those words weren’t true. That instead, the words I heard at the end of the sermon were actually lies from the evil one. And guess what? It’s all because of Biblical community! God spoke to and through these couples, to help me see what was really going on.

In that moment, I felt like a huge weight had lifted off of my shoulders. So after this revelation, Christina and I went back to the hotel and continued praying. We were praying for Beulah, for Edmonton, and for his divine leading—essentially, whatever the Holy Spirit was prompting us to pray for.

We were trying to figure out whether this was merely a good opportunity for ministry, or if it was a calling? His calling upon our lives? And that’s when God broke our hearts.

Opportunities and Callings

When discerning and making big decisions, I’ve learned that there’s a difference between an opportunity and a calling. I wish I could present the differences in a chart, but that would seem too exact. It would seem as if I were some expert on the matter, but the fact is I’m not. I’m learning like you are. So here are a few of my thoughts on the differences.

When you’re discerning your next step, recognize that there’s a subtle difference between a good opportunity and a God calling. If it’s an opportunity, you will likely be able to see yourself doing it, or doing something else. Opportunities are abundant, and sometimes when making a decision, it will honestly come down to one opportunity or another—the difference between good and good. In those situations, you need to saturate yourself in prayer and the Scriptures, use wisdom, and listen to the advice of others who love you and love God because sometimes they may see something you don’t. (There’s a reason blind spots are called blind spots. You can’t see them, but others can.) But at end of it all, there are times when you just need to make the call and walk in it—one step at a time.

However, there are other times where, as you are placing yourself at the foot of the cross, God will break your heart and you won’t be able to see yourself doing anything else. Even if it doesn’t make sense, you can’t not do it. Even if you feel inadequate for the task, you are drawn toward it. That’s a sign of a calling, but it’s important to recognize that timing is a different matter.

God may call you to something, but that doesn’t always mean it’s immediate. After God called Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, and Paul to a task, they all had to wait. It wasn’t instant by any means.

When God calls, it’s not always now.
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And that’s what happened on that Saturday night. As Christina and I were placing ourselves at the foot of the cross, meditating on the Scriptures, praying, worshipping, and seeking God’s face, He broke our hearts for Edmonton and for Beulah. That night, we sensed God was saying that this is where He wanted us. That this was the next right thing. And that everything we had learned and done in life was leading us to this next appointment.

So, here we are. Several months later, we’re now back in Edmonton, more excited than ever to help lead Beulah to accomplish its vision to reach 1% of greater Edmonton for Christ.

And it’s not because this is some opportunity. No, it’s because this is a calling—God’s calling on our lives.

So what?

I love what Frederick Buechner says, ““The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

If, after reading this article, you don’t feel like you are working in your calling, don’t quit! Instead, be faithful where you’re at, do your best, serve others as if you’re serving Jesus, and continue to seek His face through reading the Bible, prayer, and the spiritual disciplines because God wants the best for you.

God is a good Father. He is for you and not against you. He will lead you. He will go before you. And He will make a way for you.

Seek first His Kingdom and trust His timing.

If you don’t believe me, spend some time reading these passages from the Bible:

Luke 11Romans 8Matthew 6Proverbs 3

The Most Important Question When Discerning Your Next Steps

Not making the decision isn’t the issue. The issue is not even having the option of making the decision.

It’s not that I don’t like double negatives, it’s just that they can sometimes be tricky to navigate—much like decision making. And boy, was this last year ever a year for decision making.

Five years ago, when we moved down to Nashville to serve the Church in her mission of making disciples with LifeWay Leadership, I never thought we’d be back up in Canada this soon. In fact, we had just gotten permanent residency in the States, which was a long, complicated, and expensive process.

But last Fall, Christina and I began sensing that change was on the horizon. There was this unsettledness in our hearts that couldn’t be explained. We loved everything about our lives in Nashville. Our community was incredible, our church was healthy and growing, our podcast was impacting marriages and families, and my work at LifeWay was affecting and changing church practice. I was also in the middle of writing my third book, while continuing to accept invitations to speak on my previous one. In other words, there was no human reason for us to move, or even consider a change—especially if you’re an Enneagram 3 like I am. In fact, I even heard some people remark that I had their dream job.

So you can probably anticipate how surprised I was when, only a few months later, Christina and I started praying about coming back to Beulah Alliance Church—especially since it was in the middle of an Edmonton winter (#ifyouknowyouknow). And to be crystal clear, this wasn’t some trite little “prayer” that we carelessly tossed up to God. No, this was one of those all-hands-on-deck, get-on-your-knees, everything-is-up-for-grabs, I-can’t-believe-I’m-actually-praying-this kind of prayer.

Here’s why it was one of those prayers.

When Keith Taylor, the Lead Pastor of Beulah for the last 28 years, asked us to pray about coming back, it wasn’t just to fill a gap. He had been asking God to unsettle the right person’s heart who was going to come alongside him and lead Beulah into the future.

Unsettle?

Now I’m no expert in making decisions, but there are certain moments when there are one too many “coincidences” to just let things pass by without some serious reflection and prayer—and this was one of those moments.

I love the image that our friends Kevin and Rea Queen shared with us about discernment and decision making. When a gardener wishes to move a plant, he is going to first dig and prepare the hole that the plant is going to be moved into. It’s only after that place is ready, that the gardener begins to gently unsettle the soil around the plant—until it’s ready to come out.

God is the great gardener, and if you’re in the midst of a transition where you feel like you are being uprooted out of your context, perhaps you need to trust the fact that God has already begun preparing a place for you.

This is because God is a good Father (Luke 11:11-13). And he is for you and not against you (Romans 8:31).

In seasons of transition, your primary responsibility isn’t to strategically outline all possible avenues forward, which has typically been my default go-to method. No, your primary responsibility is to look to and trust in the One who knows all possible avenues forward. In other words, the best thing you can do is to surrender. I’m not referring to some passive laissez-faire approach to life and decision making. I’m talking about actively surrendering your good ideas for God’s best idea for your life.

Surrender your good ideas for God’s best idea for your life.
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And surrendering not only includes your plans, but it also includes your timeline.

After all, isn’t waiting the hardest thing about discernment?

All in all, it was a six month process of discernment for us. There were many points along the way where we just wanted to call it and make the decision—one way or the other—since living in limbo sometimes feels like the worst. But as we were actively surrendering our good plans for God’s best plan, we knew that God was calling us to wait.

For us, the difficulty wasn’t in making the decision, it was not even having the option of making the decision—since God was calling us to wait.

As we were nearing the end of the process, Christina recommended this wonderfully insightful book to help clarify our thoughts, our desires, and our motives. It’s The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman.

At the end of the book, Freeman mentions that in seasons of discernment, it’s helpful to evaluate what the process of discernment has done to your relationship with God and the relationships of those around you. If there’s an increasing measure of strife in your relationship with others, and you seem to be filled with more anxiety than peace, and a desire for control than surrender, then perhaps the thing that you are seeking after isn’t God’s best for your life.

However, if you’ve drawn nearer to the Lord, are filled with a greater measure of peace and surrender, and the relationships around you are stronger and healthier, then perhaps God’s will has already been accomplished in your life? And the result is secondary?

What if the process of discernment is more important than the outcome? And what if God is more concerned with the person you’re becoming, than the place you’re going, or some decision that needs to be made?

What if the process of discernment is more important than the outcome?
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Next week I’ll share the role of a call in decision making, and how that played a part for us in moving back to Edmonton (and why we’re so incredibly excited to be back), but until then, I want to leave you with this question.

Are you willing to surrender your good ideas for God’s best idea for your life?

Or, is being in control and making a decision more important for you?