03 | Is It God or Me? How to Discern When God Is Calling You to Do Something

Have you ever wondered whether something on your heart is really from God or just from your own thoughts? Maybe you keep praying, second-guessing yourself, or waiting for a sign because you don’t want to get it wrong. In today’s episode, we’re looking at two things that can help you discern whether God may be calling you to do something, so you can move forward with greater clarity and confidence. 

Do you want clarity and confidence to walk in your unique life purpose, but find yourself struggling because you don’t know what God is calling you to do, or because doubt is holding you back? Then you’re in the right place.

Hi, I’m Arris, wife, mom, writer, and life purpose coach. I walked the path to find clarity about my purpose, overcome doubt, and step into my calling, and now God has called me to help you find yours and walk in it. If you’re ready to find clarity about your purpose, grow more confident in who you are, and live out your calling in the middle of real life, join the conversation, and let’s get Candid on Calling.

Before we get started, I created a free guide and simple discernment tool that goes right along with this episode. If you’ve been struggling to know whether something you’re sensing is really from God, or just your own thoughts, it will help you prayerfully work through that question and move forward with greater clarity and confidence. You can get it at liveinspiredbypurpose.com/ god-or-me.

Or, you can find the link in the show notes. Have you ever had something keep coming to mind and wondered, is God calling me to do this, or is it just me? You don’t want to miss what God may be calling you to do, but you also don’t want to move forward based only on your own thoughts or desires. 

In First Samuel 3, we see how difficult it can sometimes be to recognize when God is calling us.

Samuel was still young and serving in the house of the Lord under Eli the priest. The Bible tells us that the word of the Lord was rare in those days, and there weren’t many visions. So, Samuel was living in a time when people rarely received direct messages or visions from God.

And one night, Samuel heard his name being called, and he ran to Eli and said, Here I am, you called me? But Eli hadn’t called him, so he sent Samuel back to bed. 

Then it happened a second time. Samuel heard his name, went back to Eli, and Eli told him again that he hadn’t called. By the third time, Eli realized that the Lord was calling Samuel, and he told him to go back, and if God called again, to say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” And that’s just what Samuel did. 

That night, Samuel began to recognize God’s voice and respond to his call. And later, Scripture tells us that all Israel recognized him as a prophet of the Lord.

What stands out to me is that Samuel didn’t recognize God’s voice right away. God called him more than once, and Eli helped him understand what was happening.

Now, our experiences may not look exactly like Samuel’s, but we can still find ourselves trying to figure out whether we’re really hearing from God, thinking, “Is this God, or is it me?”

So, I want to share two things that can help you discern whether God may be leading you to do something. 

First, don’t rely on one isolated sign. 

When you’re trying to discern whether God is calling you to do something, it’s easy to look for one unmistakable sign that confirms it.

Maybe you’re waiting for a certain feeling, a Bible verse, an open door, or someone to say something that makes God’s direction clear. 

And God can make something clear in one moment, but when you’re still unsure, God can use more than one thing to bring clarity. Sometimes the same direction keeps coming up in different ways. It might become clearer as you pray or read Scripture, or there could be conversations and experiences that can also point you in that direction. You might even get confirmation through wise counsel, sometimes without you even bringing it up first. 

John 10:27 says, My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

As we grow closer to God, we become better able to recognize His voice and discern His leading from our own thoughts. 

When you base a decision only on one sign, strong hopes or fears can make it easier to misread and later question what that sign meant. 

But when the same direction is supported in different ways over time, it can give you more clarity and confidence about what God may be calling you to do.

Sometimes God may use a sign to show you that He’s leading you to do something. But if you’re still unsure whether that sign is really from Him or what it means, don’t base your decision on that alone. Pause and reflect on what’s really been happening over time.

• Does this keep coming back in the same way or maybe in different ways? 
• Is it becoming clearer as you pray and read God’s word and ask Him for direction? 
• Have conversations, experiences, or wise counsel supported what you’re sensing, even when you weren’t looking for confirmation, maybe? 

It can be helpful to write down what you notice. Every detail doesn’t need to line up perfectly, and every experience doesn’t have to mean something, but you’re simply noticing whether different things seem to be pointing toward the same decision or direction. 

And give it time. You don’t want to rush just because something feels right, but you also don’t want to dismiss it simply because you’re unsure. So stay prayerful and patient and give God room to bring clarity over time. 

Second, consider the bigger picture of your life.

Sometimes we’re so focused on one idea or opportunity that we look at it all by itself. Instead, consider how it connects with the bigger picture of your life. 

Does it fit with the way God has made you, the ways you naturally impact others, and the season of life that you’re actually in? Is anything in your life beginning to line up with it? Maybe an opportunity, a connection, or a possible next step? 

That doesn’t mean God will only call you to something that feels familiar or easy. He may stretch you beyond your comfort zone or lead you into something you never expected, but even then you may begin to see how it connects with things God has already been doing in your life. 

Looking at the whole picture can help you see an idea more clearly. Something that seems random on its own may start to make sense when you see it alongside everything else. Or you might realize that something that sounds good on its own doesn’t actually fit with the bigger picture. 

So take what you feel God may be calling you to do and consider it alongside the rest of your life. Does it make sense for the season you’re in? Does it connect with the way God made you, what He’s been placing on your heart, and how He’s been growing you? 

You may want to write down what seems to support it and what raises questions or concerns, because looking at both can help you understand the overall picture even more clearly.

And remember, something can sound like a good idea and even fit your abilities without necessarily being what God is calling you to do. Or He may be leading you toward it, but the timing may not be right yet. Looking at the bigger picture can help you see whether the answer is yes, no, or maybe it’s just not yet.

So when you’re trying to discern whether God is calling you to do something, remember these two things. First, don’t rely on one isolated sign. Look at what keeps becoming clearer and is supported over time. Second, don’t look at the idea by itself. Consider how it fits with the bigger picture of your life. 

You may not always have 100% certainty before you take a step, but as you stay close to God and listen for his voice and stay open to what He’s showing you, you can better discern what He may be calling you to do and move forward with more clarity and confidence.

And remember, if you’re trying to discern whether something may be from God or just your own thoughts, get my free Is It God or Me guide and discernment tool. It goes deeper into multiple aspects of discernment and alignment to help you more carefully work through what you’re sensing. You can get it at liveinspiredbypurpose.com/God-or-me or find the link in the show notes.

I’m so glad you joined me today. If you know someone who could benefit from this conversation, I hope you’ll share this episode with her. And if Candid On Calling is helpful to you, I’d be so grateful if you’d leave a review. Your words can help this podcast reach more women.

Until next time, keep living inspired by purpose.