Responding to God’s Call When It’s Inconvenient

By Jessica Brodie

Have you ever found something really easy to say but not exactly super-easy to do? This year, I’ve been focusing hard on obedience to God—trying to listen to Him, heed His commands, pay attention to His nudges. A word I love right now is “alignment,” and I’ve been working on aligning myself with God’s ways and wishes and setting my own aside.

But the truth is I often get in the way of God’s plans.

Ouch—I said it. But it needed to be said.

I don’t consciously block Him. It’s never intentional. if I were to pause in the moment and really see my actions and their consequences clearly, I’m sure I’d take steps to fix them.

But that’s exactly the problem: I don’t often pause to do that. Sometimes I get so caught up in busy-ness, doing, striving that I move so fast I don’t really look around and understand I’ve just zoomed past the heart of what He’s called me to do.

Take the to-do list. I’ve said before I’m a Type A, aggressive, driven woman, and lists help me stay organized and focused. But I’ve been guilty of more than one occasion of focusing so hard on that list that I completely miss an opportunity to serve Him. Then later, when my mind keeps returning to that so-called distraction, I realize it was actually more important than the task I’d chosen instead.

For instance, that time when I was so focused on churning out that faith article I was writing when I was interrupted by a coworker wanting to chat. I asked if we could talk later. Hours later, article done, my mind kept circling back to her expression, the dark circles beneath her eyes, and knew I’d chosen wrong. She needed someone to talk to and had come to me—and I’d said no.

Reading the Gospel of Matthew today, about how the disciples responded when Jesus called them into service, reminds me I need to change.

In Matthew 4:18-22, we’re told that as Jesus walked alongside the Galilee Sea, he saw two brothers, Simon Peter and Andrew, fishing. "Come, follow me, and I’ll show you how to fish for people," Jesus said.

And as the Scripture said, “Right away, they left their nets and followed him” (Matthew 4:x CEB).

Continuing on, he saw another set of brothers, James and John, repairing their fishing nets in a boat with their father.

As Scripture tells us, “Jesus called them and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him” (Matthew 4:22).

Right away. Immediately.

Jesus called, and they responded. They didn’t responsibly stay and help their dad finish the work. They didn’t industriously clean up their nets, store them in their homes, clock out, or kiss their families goodbye.

They heard the call—and came.

And their choice was the better choice. They chose Jesus over the world. They chose Jesus over “responsibility.” They chose Jesus over doing the “right” thing.

Because, frankly, Jesus transcends the right thing—He’s the only thing.

Years ago, I remember I was doing something, probably something important, and my phone rang. I’d been tempted to ignore the call, let it go to voicemail, but I felt such a powerful nudge that I picked up the phone—and received what turned but to be an actual, literal, life-or-death cry for help. Hours later, at the person’s hospital bed, I was grateful I’d listened to what I now realize was a “God nudge” and responded.

Today, I still find myself struggling with that constant theme in my life: stick to the task or veer off course—maybe for the greater good.

I don’t always choose right. Sometimes I get that nudge and shove it away, thinking it’s just a petty distraction. But I am trying to keep my ears and eyes open and discern what’s a distraction and what’s a real call.

One thing I can do starting today is pray first before I craft that to-do list—to ask God to show me what to prioritize. Another thing I can do is pause throughout the day for mini touch-base times with God to make sure I’m not so busy I plow through something I should stop and handle. And a third thing I can do is pay attention when I get those nudges and don’t just dismiss them because I’m “busy.”

The call is not always convenient. Sometimes it’s flat-out inconvenient. But the disciples give us a model to follow, and for that, I’m grateful.