God’s calling is powerful and influential. It was so influential that I decided to take a step in faith and quit my job in order to serve the One greater than I.
“ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” James 4: 13-15.This verse hung on my desk where I could see it every single day. It was a verse that spoke volumes to me the first time my husband shared it with me, and it speaks even louder to me now.
On my way to work, I would often think about my past plan of “moving up in life”, like many millennials, the career plan was pretty clean cut and socially influenced. I was to go to college, graduate with a four-year degree, land a great paying job following my hard earned college debt, and move up the ladder in life. 
I came to find that not one of those goals is what God had planned for me and like many, I felt lost.
Through prayer I found that this was never what I was intended to do, I did get some of it right but it was not the clear message I should have been hearing. This all changed when I allowed myself to become closer to God and started truly listening to where I was being called to serve.
While I was still working my full-time job, the plan to create a ministry was being brought up in mine and my husband’s relationship quite often, to the point where we decided this is what we need to be doing! And it wasn’t just coming up in our conversations, but others were bringing up the subject as well, which is why I knew it was God calling us to create Abide and Seek.
Then again, I would go to work and see James 4: 13-15 sitting on my desk, telling me to do the Lord’s will. So we began to ask ourselves where do we even begin. The first calling we felt was to have me quit my job.
At first, I couldn’t imagine quitting my job, I have had a full-time job since I was 15 years old, how could God be telling me to quit my job?
But the hard work I was being called to do would have been stretched thin if I were to work my 40 hours. My husband and I both knew if we wanted to put in what God had put on our hearts to fulfill, it would take some sacrifice and some changes.
After going through our financial situation and seeing what bills we needed to pay off one income, we decide even though we would be eliminating one other income, we could make it work and we know where God guides he always provides.
We then informed our families of our plan to have me quit my job and pursue our ministry. Some were very supportive and are absolutely excited to see what is to come, others were very apprehensive about me leaving my job. My husband and I both know this is exactly what we are being called to do and there was no way we could turn it down.
We want to be able to step out in our faith without fear or hesitation, and so this how we are starting! As of now, we both can say “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” and that is exactly what we planned to do with Abide and Seek.
This step in faith has already revealed so much to us that has only brightened our light and made us shine as Christians.
Being Called to Serve: How I Left my Job to Pursue God’s Calling
How Did We Make This Decision to Leave a Whole Other Income Behind and Put God First?…
1. We Prayed
The power of prayer has changed my decision making immensely! We may of not even of heard God calling us to create Abide and Seek if we were not asking for guidance and effectively listening.
2. We Discussed our Calling with Others
We discussed the ministry with others, some of the faith and some not of faith. Both have given us a great insight into things to consider and many have been so supportive. Like I said before, other people of our church also brought up some ideas of the ministry and the amazing part is, some were bringing it up without even knowing we were pursuing it! Now that is the work of God himself!
3. We have a Weekly Plan
Since I have left my job, we have been treating my role in the ministry as a job. I’m still putting in the hours I would have at work ( without the commute ) while still being able to do things I loved doing before like volunteering at the church’s food pantry and helping my family and friends. Each week I have goals to make and complete for the ministry, so even though it’s not a “ traditional job” I am still putting in hours of work a week.
4. We Created a Budget
Because we did eliminate one of our incomes, we just have been more money conscious. We try eating out minimally, purchase just the things we need and monitor what is coming in and what is going out. We make sure we have a cushion in case of an emergency. We still tithe 10 % of our income which is very important to us and is important to give God’s money where it is intended to go. We are not stretched financial but that is because we have planned before I left to keep the ministry the focal point instead of worldly needs we may desire.
5. We Take it One Day at a Time
Just like life, we can get ahead of ourselves and then life seems to become so overwhelming and not enjoyable. We try to enjoy what we have for the day to accomplish and go from there. If we tried to look at the whole website building process from the beginning to the end, we would have felt like we had taken on too much. But instead, we look at each day to create a great article to share with others and have fun with it!
6. We Give Thanks
Each day, the first thing I say to God is Thank you. I realize how blessed I am to be able to have a relationship with God and to have His guidance. I can wake up each day and know I am doing exactly what I was created to do!
7. Stepped Out in Faith
This is the most important step we took because if we had not of just trusted that God would see us through this decision, we probably would of never of done it! And with just the short time we have been building Abide and Seek and the time I have been able to devote to it 100%, it has been so rewarding already.
Leah Lincoln
Hello Friends! My Name is Leah Lincoln and I am the co-founder of Abide and Seek, which is mine and my husband’s Christian Blog. I write articles based on my past experiences and point of view as a Christian woman in hopes to help others find their everlasting relationship with Jesus Christ. Although I am a follower of Jesus, I have a background in science which I feel only enhances my understanding of God’s creation. I am a stay at home mom who enjoys watching our 2 year old son grow and learn something new each day and we just welcomed home our newest child this past December! A sweet little girl! My passions include writing to inspire others, crafting and creating art, tending to and saving animals, gardening, and enjoying a hot cup of coffee with the company of good friends and family.
Comments 18
Look forward to hearing more of your journey from both of you~love and prayers, Jo Lyn
Author
We will defiantly keep you in mind when anything new is posted or created! We have your email so we will be able to send you updates as our journey progresses. We are so excited at how many people have already been looking into our site and how many articles we have seen others have already read, it is truly inspiring!
Take care and be blessed 🙂
Nick & Leah
Co-Founders of Abide and Seek
I live and am alone. I believe God is calling me to be a Publisher ro start a Christian Magazine in my area. This would be a Full time endeavor and require me to leave my present job and live my life on Social Security only.. just paying my bills.It would take 60 days to make income as a Publisher. Your thoughts??
Michael
How are you doing? Has your calling to create the magazine yielded any good news?
I can’t figure out what I’m being called for…or if I am being called for anything…maybe just depressed and desperate to believe my faith has something bigger in store…Anyway… I love writing and learning about the Bible and God. Would be cool to hear a story about how you are doing!
imaginedbyamanda@gmail.com
Absolutely love your story! My husband and stepped out in faith to run our homeless outreach and headstone business Nov 2017. God’s been meeting our daily breads and keeping us. Your testimony is very inspiring! Looking forward to receive your emails. Blessings!
I been hearing god call me years but each morning I arise I feel a new awakening
Over me I’m praying for guidance to walk into.his realm not man
This has inspired me I realize lately I have tried to do my own business but when I go to church something tells me that where I belong and after I attended a retreaty business collapsed then I realized I should work for Jesus he shall provide my needs thank you for your story I had inspired me greatly
I have been looking for answers to a “Can I be well off after leaving work for ministry?!” And now that I have read this story of yours, I know better that God can provide…
Thank you so much
Hi, very inspiring story. How did you know that you were called?
Author
I apologize for very late response! I knew that I was being called because first I prayed about it, brought it to the Lord and so did my husband. So we waited and as time went on different things arose as well as God brought us into a different season. Abide and Seek was put on our hearts and we dove into it, we started it up before I actually left my job. Another thing I prayed about was my position, I wanted to make sure I left the job I was hired for in a better light than when I was first hired. When I walked onto this job it was super disorganized, not clear what the job requirements were and just needed some help to get this position and its duties on track. Somehow in the short time I was there, March-November I cleared up all the issues relating to this position. That was all God! I have no idea how I figured out billing that was owed up to a year before I took the position, reorganized, created manuals etc. I know in my heart it would have bothered me if I had left that job the way I walked in on it and God allowed me to fully step in and use all my skills to fix these issues which in all honesty effected more than just me and the future person in that position. I also became pregnant immediately following our marriage. Because of the laboratory environment I was in I knew I couldn’t fully do my job any more and that was just the surprise/ icing on the cake! I knew it was my time to step out and leave to fully engage in ministry. Since beginning Abide and Seek we have reached thousands of readers around the world and I am beyond grateful for the calling God put on mine and my husband’s heart to step out and begin this site. I truly believe it was preparing us for our church we now have right out of our own home! God has a plan for each of us and its up to us to trust, abide and listen. If we are able to do that He will use us in extraordinary ways! God Bless <3
u have encountered me pastor have been called by God but I don’t know what to do am lacking someone to hold my hand and acheave my goal in the ministry but your story has encourage me shuarly God is able let’s give him glory shalom pastor Shelton ochieng from Kenya
Thank you for sharing your story, it has inspired me greatly as I am seeking Gods’ guidance.
Hello Leah,
I was inspired by your post, please l am called by God, but l have been running away from that. All l wanted for myself in life was to get to a particular level in my career before l can step into the ministry. With that l can fully support the Ministry without be a burden to people.
Though, l started a ministry November 2018, but closed it down, due to an opportunity l had in the USA in January 2019. Though that opportunity eventually ripped me of my hard earned money and eventually l was disappointed.
Right now, l am about embarking on a two year further studies which is to be sponsored financially by me.
My present challenge is that l keep hearing a voice, telling me always that this money l want to channel to my further study is what l should have used in doing the Ministry work that God has called me into,that after all this Certificate what l am going to do with it? Knowing fully well that l am currently gainfully employed with good pay.
Please , l am seriously battling with this issue and your kind inputs will be well appreciated.
Dr Chimex. Nigeria
How are you doing, Dr.? I feel what you’re saying…I’m lost but feel like my faith is pointing me somewhere new but I can’t figure it out… I struggle with anxiety and depression but it’s so much worse now…and my job is at risk. I’m just a dental assistant…how can I serve God doing something else?
I want to thank you for your words today I needed to hear this I want to take what days that I have on hurt serving Jesus.
I am so sorry that I miss spell a word in my last post. 02/27/2020 here is the correction. (Earth)
This post was truly worthwhile to read. I wanted to say thank you for the key points you have pointed out as they are enlightening.
Please see my blog,
Four Signs You are Being Called By God
Hope this will help, Thank you!
I agree with every factor that you have pointed out. Thank you for sharing your beautiful thoughts on this.