What is your calling...?

We had an interesting discussion about calling in small group recently. The question was posed: "What is God calling you to in 2026?" A good question. There were some good answers but also questions about the question. How do we know God is calling us to something? Is it a calling or something that we would like to do? Is it a question of language: calling, feeling, sensing, preference, desire? Or passion - what is your passion? And can we be called into a particular profession? Surely calling (vocation) might mean teacher, social worker, doctor, IT manager, entrepreneur, physical therapist, or mum? Being called to be a mother is a high call indeed. Is there any higher? Perhaps these callings may need some help to identify from a friend looking at your skill set, gifts, passion and what brings joy. And what of calling in The Bible? There are some specific ministry areas individuals seem called to but only a few: "Paul called to be an apostle". Most calling references seem to refer to a "call to be holy" (1 Cor 1:1), a "call to belong" (Rom 1:6), "called to be saints" (Rom 1:7), "those He called he predestined" (Rom 8:30), "called in to fellowship" (1.Cor1:9), "the life to which you were called" (1 Tim.6:12). Called into something rather than to do something. Then of course we read of Jesus calling His disciples to follow Him. What are we to make of all this? It would seem in the New Testament that calling refers principally to being called by God to Himself and to the benefits of this calling. So what is your calling? Maybe first and foremost that God is calling you to Himself. And then to ask Him what is next...