“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
This question, asked to every child at some point, quickly the pressure of this question builds as you get older. Then one day, you grown up and still can’t answer this question.
So, how do you figure out what you want to be and what you want to do?
I remember a few of the things I wanted to be as a child. At one point, I wanted to be a marine, and at another point, a carpenter. (why? I have no idea.) I’m sure there were many other careers I though to pursue mixed in there as well.
I got my first “job” around 11 or 12, paid to help a man from my church. This was work I did until I turned 16, in which he then hired me to help with his plumbing company.
I enjoyed working for him, but I knew that plumbing wasn’t what I wanted to do. The thought that maybe I might enjoy working a trade had become my goal. I ended up attending a trade school during high school for HVAC work. I have done that kind of work off and on ever since.
Soon, I realized that I didn’t exactly love HVAC work either.
When I graduated from high school, I got the opportunity to go to Rose State College for free. Growing up, I was never sure if I would attend college, but free is a good motivator.
I initially enrolled as a business major mainly because I still didn’t know what I wanted to do. Through my college experience at Rose, I became a Mass Comm major and started a podcast.
Despite that, this only looks at the natural side of things. Because on the other side of the coin is the spiritual side of things which should play an even bigger role in determining who you will be when you grow up.
When I was 13, I truly got plugged into who God was. The first time I received the Holy Ghost was when I was 7, but it wasn’t until I was 13 that God really began to pull me closer to him.
I felt the call of God when I was 13 at NAYC, and I felt that I needed a mentor. With no idea what a mentor was, I still felt that I needed one. I had a few names in mind, but there was one name that I felt was the one that wasn’t my top pick at the time.
It was my youth pastor, and I asked him to be my mentor the Sunday after we returned. (having no idea what I was getting into.)
We began that same month. He had me sign a contract and everything! It was what I needed; the teaching and training I got completely changed the course of my life.
He pushed me to grow as a man in the word, prayer, and many other habits. The direction I received helped birth a desire in me to seek the kingdom first.
When your desire and motive is to seek God’s kingdom, he will direct your path. Even when there are times you don’t have an answer, you can trust in God.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
When living this verse, the doors you need to be opened, and the questions that you have will be open and answered when the time is right.
Grow yourself and learn what you need to learn to figure out your likes and dislikes, but remember that God is the one who opens the door and will help you discover what you are called to be and ultimately show you who you need to be when you grow up.
