Finding My Vocation: A Guide for Young People Seeking a Calling

by William Boekestein

How can I pick the right job?

Actually, you don't need to choose a job that's "perfect for you." But you do need to be productive in ways that honor God in your work life.

Here's a better As a believer, how can I determine what I am supposed to do, and then do it well? The doctrine of calling, or vocation, will lead you to the answer.

Finding My Vocation will help you do three

Ponder - learn what it means to have a calling and what Scripture teaches about work.Prepare - determine the skills and character traits you'll need and learn to sort through vocational options and be faithful in your other callings.Practice - apply biblical disciplines to succeed at work and relate work to the rest of your life as a Christian.God placed us in his world to work for his glory. You might not know exactly what he has planned for you, but you must-and can-be faithful where he calls you.

Genres: Parenting

168 pages, Paperback

Published September 6, 2024

About the author

William Boekestein (M.Div., Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary) is Pastor of Immanuel Fellowship Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He previously pastored Covenant Reformed Church in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. Before that he taught in a Christian School for several years. He and his wife have four children.

Reviews

[Anne Michal]

With a couple caveats, this book is so so good!!! The author combines wisdom from Scripture, church fathers, and modern authorities, like Cal Newport, to write a very informative and helpful book on calling and vocation. I was challenged in the way that I view my own calling but also encouraged to continue pursuing the work that God has laid in front of me. My caveats are that the chapter on money was too Dave Ramsey-esque for my taste and his appendix on “Am I called to ministry?” is directed to men only. But the first 8 chapters make this book so worth the read!!!

[Bill Pence · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book on vocation is written by a pastor and primarily aimed toward young people, though I believe it will provide value to all ages. The book is divided into three major sections:
• Pondering Vocation
• Preparing for Your Vocation
• Practicing Vocation
There are then five brief appendices that look at common questions you might find yourself asking as you think about your future.
As the author wrote the book, he interviewed dozens of people who exemplify godly work. He includes their stories and advice at the end of each chapter.
The book is heavily footnoted, with contributions from throughout church history.
The book is intended as a guide for young people trying to figure out what to do with their lives. As such, it is also for the parents of young people.
The author covers a number of subjects including vocation, work, calling, working well, rest, managing money, and others.
I recommend this book to young (and older) adults as an introduction to the subject of vocation.
Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:
• Our “master-vocation” is to love the Lord supremely and our neighbor as ourselves.
• As a subset of our master-calling, our particular callings are how we love God and others with the skills the Lord has given us.
• Your vocation is the unique way in which God has chosen you to fit into his great plan.
• You can glorify God in whatever work you undertake, provided it is noble work.
• Legitimate work must serve God by serving people.
• God placed us in his world to work for his glory.
• Work is good, but broken.
• Work is both where and how we show others the practical power of the gospel in everyday life.
• Work is hard. But it is good.
• Every believer has a vocation, a calling to glorify God in his or her station.
• The best work—the only truly God-glorifying work—is performed out of gratitude to God. And this is true no matter how difficult or seemingly fruitless the task.
• Good work also requires convictions informed by sound theology. To work well you need to take your theology to work!
• Given the vocational freedom we have today, you should begin by evaluating yourself and the fields that might become your lifelong occupation with the input of trusted advisors, committing the matter to God in prayer.
• All legitimate work is good. No one kind of worker has greater value before the Lord. But some callings allow us to do more good than others.
• In your quest for satisfying work, you can easily neglect family. You must not.
• We are the hands and feet of God in the service of others.
• To honor God’s intention for balanced living, you need a theology of rest that you implement on a daily and weekly basis.
• Near the start of your working years, you need to develop a biblical attitude toward money and the accumulation of wealth.

[JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book even though it’s intended for younger people! A good read about God’s will for work, how to work well, and how to discern how God can use your gifts for his kingdom!

[Mart Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am retired and often asked for career advice by students and young adults. To that end, I read a lot about vocation. I admire the amount of research this author did on the subject. If you are looking for a reservoir of scriptural and theological thinking about work, this would be a good resource. That said, I'll likely not recommend it to a young person for that very reason. The amount of references to different scriptures and other works is, to me, overwhelming. For example, an 8-1/2 page chapter has 37 reference notes. It became too much for me and I doubt would keep a young person's attention. The basic premises in the book are sound, but it takes some perseverance to get to them.

[Adam Kareus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good and clear work on the theology of work and vocation. This would benefit any Christian as to how God has ordered us to work and find meaning in all the work that comes into our hands. While the subtitle is directed at young people, with the hope of helping guide those who are just getting into the job market, this book can be a great help to any believer who is working and seeking to understand how their work connects to their faith.

[Jordan Carl · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent, concise primer on vocation. This volume is perfect to put in the hands of a younger person (teens to early adults) who need godly wisdom while considering vocation, calling, etc. There are many practical applications and short vignettes which highlight certain elements of vocation.

[Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very helpful, accessible, and culturally timely read. 5/5 would recommend to anybody looking to find their vocation or to parents and/or mentors looking to help others in their lives.

[Cate · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're struggling to know what to do post-high school, I would highly recommend this book and Drew Dyck's Just Show Up .

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book for young people. I found it easy to read and understand. I look forward to commending it to my students.