Women have a calling. As believers, we are called to follow Christ and use the unique passions and gifts He’s given us to make Him known. But sometimes, we hold back and keep our gifts to ourselves instead of utilizing them to serve God and others. It’s all too easy to surrender to timidity and the minimizing belief that another woman could do it better than us, so why even try?
But God has more for His daughters. He knows your purpose and wants you to confidently step into all He has planned for you and make much of Him as you do. Here are four essential ways to gain confidence in your calling.
1. Understand the Difference Between Our Universal and Personal Callings
All believers in Christ have the universal calling to fulfill the Great Commission. God has called us to be disciples who make disciples wherever we go, whether it’s across the street or around the world. It’s comforting to know that no matter what else happens in our lives, this is the universal call to all Christians. We know we are called to share the gospel.
But secondly, God gives us a personal calling. He equips each of us with specific assignments and provides the spiritual gifts we need to accomplish them. He opens doors of opportunities and puts just the right people in our paths on purpose, and these things can shift depending on what season of life we’re in.
Author Frederick Buechner said, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” God stirs our hearts and equips us to a specific personal calling during each season of our lives.
2. Learn to Discern God’s Direction
Discerning God’s call often unfolds more like a thread, gradually weaving together experiences, gifts, and opportunities that reveal God’s design over time. Many of us wrestle with the question, “What am I called to do?” But often, the answer doesn’t come in one clear moment. It comes through faithful steps of obedience in the seasons and spaces God places us.
Sometimes, that call begins simply with meeting a practical need like taking a job to help provide for your family. Yet as we step through open doors with a willing heart, God often uses those moments to prepare and position us for what’s next. Over time, we begin to notice patterns—skills we’ve always had, passions that come naturally, and areas where others affirm our strengths.
That process requires attentiveness and reflection. Asking trusted friends and mentors what they see in us can bring clarity, as can honest prayer and self-examination. God’s call also shifts with seasons. You may be called to full-time work in one stage of life and to raising children or serving in your church in another. Each role is a part of God’s larger story of equipping and shaping us.
One helpful clue comes from identifying the things that bring us joy, energy, and a sense of purpose. Those often point to where our God-given gifts align with His calling. Discerning your calling isn’t about finding the perfect plan—it’s about walking faithfully with the Lord as He unfolds it, one obedient step at a time.
3. Find Confidence in Your Identity in Christ
Confidence in our calling begins with knowing who we are in Christ. Our identity isn’t rooted in our work, gifts, or opportunities. Our identity is grounded in what Jesus has already done for us on the cross. That truth becomes the anchor that steadies us when life changes or when we face seasons of waiting and uncertainty. There will be times when we feel like we’re walking fully in our calling and other times when we wonder if we’ve been sidelined. But in every moment, our value doesn’t rise or fall with our circumstances. When our identity is secure in Christ, we can rest, knowing that our worth is not in what we accomplish but in belonging to Him. That foundation gives us the courage to take risks, persevere through difficulty, and trust that God is still working, even in the quiet or unseen seasons.
Understanding our identity in Christ also frees us to grow with confidence. Because our security isn’t dependent on success or recognition, we can take initiative to develop the gifts God has given us. Reading, learning, and practicing in small ways can prepare us for what’s ahead. Even the smallest opportunities matter. Speaking to a handful of women at a local gathering or writing down ideas that may never be published can still shape us for future ministry. When we invest in personal growth from a place of confidence in Christ, we’re not striving to prove ourselves; we’re stewarding what He’s entrusted to us.
Finally, knowing who we are in Christ allows us to embrace each season with peace. Every stage of life—whether raising children, building a career, or walking through transition—has its own calling and purpose. We don’t have to do everything all at once or compare one season to another. Instead, we can trust that God uses each moment to equip and refine us for His glory. Confidence in our calling grows not from chasing every opportunity, but from resting in the truth that we are already fully loved, fully known, and fully called by the One who made us.
4. Keep Moving Forward, Even When You Feel Inadequate
Every believer faces discouragement, whether we’re serving in the home, workplace, or ministry. Feelings of fear and inadequacy are real, and they’re often tools the enemy uses to distract and derail us from the work God has called us to do. The key is recognizing those lies for what they are and returning to the truth of who God says we are. Our confidence doesn’t come from our abilities or accomplishments—it comes from Him.
When discouragement hits, the first step is always prayer. Take those thoughts to the Lord and ask Him to renew your thoughts with truth, to change hearts where needed, and to open the doors He wants you to walk through.
Staying confident in your calling also requires humility and dependence on Christ. Confidence in Him isn’t arrogance—it’s trust. It’s saying, “Lord, I can’t do this in my strength, but You can through me.” Sometimes the discouragement we face stems from situations beyond our control, and that’s where we must choose to stay open-handed before God, willing to grow and serve however He leads.
The voice that says, “I’m not enough” is a familiar one, but the truth of the gospel reminds us that in Christ, we are fully equipped to do what He has called us to do. Confidence rooted in our relationship with Him—not in ourselves—frees us to keep moving forward with courage, grace, and faith.
Confidence in your calling isn’t about having everything figured out perfectly. It’s about trusting the God who called you in the first place. As you walk with Him, seeking His direction, resting in your identity in Christ, and persevering through challenges, He will faithfully shape your path and provide the confidence you need to honor Him and make Christ known.
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This article was adapted for the Women’s Evangelism Webinar, “Confidence in Your Calling.” View the webinar here.
Published October 15, 2025