Ever since I was a young believer, I always knew that I was called to point and guide others towards their God-given calling.

I had no idea as to how that would take shape, but this I knew – God had called me to full-time ministry.

Soon, I entered university and it didn’t take me long to realise that I was just as lost as many of my peers. Freshman year flew by, and I was still as clueless as to what I should major in or what career I should pursue.

It was then that the Lord led me to enrol in the School of Ministry at Tung Ling Bible School. I had decided that I was going to put Him first above all else, and right after I did so, signposts began to appear in my life.

I had the opportunity to be a Teacher’s Assistant for one of my Human Resource (HR) professors the following semester.

I’ve always considered myself a people person, so I asked her what HR was all about, and through her sharing, I realised that HR was something that I could potentially do for the rest of my life. 

Getting to interact with different people each day, finding the right talents, helping them to grow and flourish, advising business leaders on people-related decisions and such… That excited me!

So I decided to take up HR as a second major. Recognising that I had the best of both worlds with my degree in economics, my professor encouraged me to try out HR in the banking field.

The Lord then opened the door for me to do a HR internship in a global bank and I simply fell in love with the job!

I also felt prompted to join my school’s Career Champions group as a para-career coach for fellow schoolmates. By then, the Lord had sharpened my skills and I went on to excel and enjoy what I did.

Thereafter, He opened a door for me in another global bank where I later secured a spot on their HR Graduate Programme!

Not only that, I found favour with them and was granted my top choice for my first rotation – under the Campus Recruitment team. It was the perfect opportunity to learn about what employers looked out for, which also put me in a much better position to advise my juniors!

The pieces were finally falling into place.

I couldn’t have asked for a better first job and it seemed like I could stay a long time at my company.

However, after a series of events, I found myself on the job hunt. I had never been in a position of prolonged unemployment and I did not expect it to be that stressful.

The days turned into weeks, the weeks into months, and I was still without a job. There I was, the career coach who couldn’t land himself a proper job!

There I was, the career coach who couldn’t land himself a proper job!

The anxiety within me mounted with each passing day until I simply came to a place of absolute surrender: “Lord, wherever it is that You want me to be, show me the way and I will obey.”

At that very moment, He brought a familiar passage of Scripture to mind:

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2)

The Holy Spirit then revealed to me that up till that point, I still had not fully yielded to Him.

Having come from a prestigious firm, I was still holding on to my pride, my plans and my ambitions; and I was still trying to make things happen in my own strength rather than let God open the door of His choosing!

A few days later, my phone rang: “Hi, this is Chris from Cornerstone!”

“Chris? Which department in church is he from and what does he want from me?” I thought.

He then went on to introduce himself. It turned out, he wasn’t from my church – he was from Cornerstone Global Partners, a recruitment firm! He had found my profile via LinkedIn and thought that I would be interested in becoming a full-time career coach.

I jolted from my seat and in an instant, all my anxiety had turned into joy and anticipation! He then proceeded to arrange an interview for me the following week and the rest is history.

When we walk closely with the Lord and follow His leading, we experience His favour.

Since then, the Lord’s favour upon my life has simply been indescribable. Being the youngest on the team, I faced a “disadvantage” in that our clients are mostly mature workers in their 50s.

Yet I was promoted to Team Lead within a year and given the opportunity to represent my company at a panel event alongside various distinguished leaders. I was even selected to be featured in the papers recently!

My job also allows me to glean many lessons from my clients that I can share with my juniors and those that I mentor.

Above all, I’m ever grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others every day.

“My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.” (Isaiah 65:22)

Truly, when we walk closely with the Lord and follow His leading, we experience His favour.

There will most certainly be difficulties along the way, but His grace is ever sufficient, and His joy will accompany the work of our hands!

If you are sincere about seeking out God’s perfect will for your life, I encourage you to yield yourself wholly to Him.

Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). He is most pleased when we trust in Him to open the door of His choosing – at the time He has set.

Through this journey, I’ve found 3 things that will help us discern His calling upon our lives if we learn to recognise them.

3 WAYS TO DISCERN GOD’S CALLING

1. The talents and the passion He has placed in us

• What are you good at?
• What makes you come alive?
• What is something you would willingly do even if it costs you time and energy?
• What makes your heart burn with passion
• What are you most burdened over?

It may take some time for us to discover these things, but the more we give of ourselves to obey Him and use the talents that He has given us, the greater the progress we will make!

2. The times and seasons of your life

Wherever you are, ask what is God’s purpose for you in that place.

Is it a season of preparation for something else that is ahead? Is He working on some character trait in you – be it patience, humility or compassion?

Or are you there so that God can reach out to a certain someone through you?

I may not know when I will be called into full-time ministry, but I do know the things that God is working on in my life in this season as a career coach and that this is a preparation ground.

I have found that when we are in the middle of God’s will, His peace will abide with us – even if we are in a difficult place!

In the middle of God’s will, His peace will abide with us.

3. The tests that He places along the way

Is He testing you in your finances? It could be that you are called to steward resources for the advancement of His Kingdom.

Are you being tested by the praises of man? It may be that He has called you to a shine for Him on a public platform.

Is He testing you in the area of forgiveness? He could well be preparing you to serve those who may not be the kindest or most appreciative towards you.

There will always be a test right before our breakthrough comes. Yet God will always provide all that we need to pass the test.

And when that happens, He will surely lift us out from the place of our testing into the place of our destiny!