Have you ever felt like God was asking you to shoulder something that seemed completely beyond your capacity? Maybe it was caring for an aging parent, accepting a challenging ministry role, or opening your home to someone in need. That moment when you realize the comfortable life you’ve built is about to be turned upside down for the sake of something bigger than yourself.

Most of us are comfortable in our lanes, maintaining control over our circumstances, but what happens when God’s will doesn’t fit neatly into our five-year plan? What do we do when He asks us to step into territory that feels overwhelming, uncertain, and frankly terrifying?

The truth is, some of life’s most profound purposes are discovered not in the plans we make, but in the unexpected detours that initially feel like disruptions, maybe even more curse than blessing. These divine interruptions often come disguised as inconveniences, emergencies, or responsibilities we never asked for. Yet within these very situations, God often plants the seeds of our greatest growth and most meaningful service. Let’s take a look at what happens when we receive an unexpected (and sometimes “unpleasant” call from God).

The Anatomy of an Unexpected Calling

Unexpected callings rarely arrive with fanfare or clear instruction manuals. They typically show up as an immediate need that demands an immediate response. A phone call that says a plane’s been delayed when time is of the essence. A situation at work that requires you to step up when no one else will. A responsibility that lands on your doorstep whether you feel ready or not.

These moments test our faith in ways that remaining in our comfort zone never could. But they force us to rely on God, and when we’re forced to rely on God’s strength rather than our own competence, we discover things about God and His faithfulness that we might not have found out otherwise. The very inadequacy we feel becomes the space where God’s sufficiency shines brightest.

Consider how many people in the Bible found their purpose through unexpected callings. Moses was tending sheep when God called him to lead a nation. David was overlooked by his own family until God chose him as king. Mary was a young woman planning a quiet life when she became the mother of the Messiah. None of them felt qualified for what God was asking, yet each discovered that God’s calling comes with God’s enabling.

Wrestling with Inadequacy

One of the most honest aspects of responding to unexpected calling is acknowledging our feelings of inadequacy. It’s natural to look at a situation and think, “I don’t have the skills for this,” or “Someone else would be better equipped.” These feelings aren’t necessarily signs that we’re hearing God wrong; they might be indicators that we’re about to enter a season of deeper dependence on Him. And dependence on Him is never a bad thing.

The enemy loves to use our sense of inadequacy to keep us from stepping into God’s purpose. He whispers that we’re not qualified, not experienced enough, not spiritual enough. But God has a history of using the unlikely and the unprepared. He seems to love choosing people who know they can’t do it on their own. Why? Because they’re more likely to give Him the glory when the task gets done.

So, when we feel overwhelmed, it’s important to remember that He’s not looking for our perfection; He’s looking for our availability. He doesn’t need us to have all the answers before we say yes. He needs us to trust that He’ll provide what we need as we need it.

Growth Through Stretching

Unexpected events stretch us in ways that comfortable living never could. They force us to develop new skills, uncover hidden strengths, and learn how to navigate issues we never thought we’d ever have to face. This “stretching” is rarely comfortable, but it’s often where the most significant spiritual growth occurs.

When we’re pushed beyond our comfort zones, we learn to pray with new urgency and specificity. It teaches us that God’s grace really is sufficient for each day’s needs. We find that His strength truly is made perfect in our weakness. These new revelations become more than just theological concepts; they become lived realities that transform our faith from theory to experience.

The stretching can also reveal our own character traits we didn’t know we possessed. Patience we didn’t think we had. Courage where we thought we would be cowardly. Compassion for others that grows stronger because of ability to better relate. Love that expands to embrace situations and people we never expected to care about. These discoveries don’t just benefit the immediate situation; they become part of who we are for the rest of our lives.

Joy in the Journey

While unexpected callings often begin with anxiety and uncertainty, they frequently lead to unexpected joy. Being used by God for His purposes brings satisfaction to a soul, even when those purposes are different from what we originally planned. When we see how God works through our obedience to His will, it brings a fulfillment that our own plans rarely provide.

This joy doesn’t mean the journey becomes easy. Just as the Cross wasn’t easy even though it was necessary for our salvation, in our own journey, there will still be difficult days, moments of doubt, and times when we wonder if we’re in over our heads. But underneath the challenges, there’s often a deep sense of rightness about being where God wants us to be, doing what He’s called us to do.

Joy also comes from witnessing, in real time, God’s faithfulness. When we step out in obedience despite our fears, we get a front-row seat to Him provision, guidance, and workings in ways that exceed our expectations so much that our faith is strengthened, honed for us to more easily face future challenges; and when that happens, we gain the ability to encourage others who are facing their own unexpected and difficult-to-believe callings.

This theme of finding purpose through unexpected calling is woven throughout “Overflowing Hearts,” where characters discover that life’s most meaningful chapters often begin with circumstances they wouldn’t have chosen. The protagonists find themselves thrust into situations that initially feel overwhelming and beyond their capacity, yet through faith and community support, they discover that God’s calling comes with His enabling.

Through her story, author Tracy Wainwright demonstrates how saying yes to unexpected responsibilities, despite fear and uncertainty, can lead to profound personal growth and deeper understanding of God’s character. Through wrestling with feelings of inadequacy while learning to trust that God’s grace is sufficient for each day’s challenges, the book offers hope to anyone who has ever felt called to something bigger than themselves but wondered if they were equipped for the journey.

If you’re facing an unexpected calling today, remember that your feelings of inadequacy or unworthiness don’t disqualify you from God’s purposes. They might actually be confirmation that you’re hearing Him correctly. You’ve probably heard it said, “God rarely calls the equipped; He equips the called.”

Start where you are with what you have. Take the next right step, even if you can’t see the whole staircase. Trust that the same God who called you will provide what you need for the journey. And remember that some of life’s greatest achievements and blessings begin with the words, “I never planned for this, but here I am.”

Your unexpected calling might be the very thing God wants to use to write the most beautiful chapter of your story.

Overflowing Hearts

Jessica and Nate Arbour believe they have moved on with their lives after suffering the loss of their only child, but one phone call from a stranger turns their lives upside down again. Three children need a home, but how can they give them the love and attention they need when their hearts still overflow with love for the daughter who is no longer with them?

Now Available at these places and more:

---

Amazon Book Preview

---

---

---