When I was younger, I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up. I loved playing school, bossing my brothers around, and pretending to teach my dolls. Until I was in high school, I envisioned myself teaching fifth grade. When I got to high school, I took chemistry and immediately decided that I wanted to teach high school chemistry for the rest of my life. I enrolled in college as an organic chemistry major and mapped out my life as the “cool” teacher. 

I thought that teaching was my passion. I couldn’t wait to do it for the rest of my life. When I got the call to be a Salvation Army officer (pastor), I realized that teaching was not my passion, but a job that enabled me to live out my real passions: helping others and loving people. 

If you haven’t found your passion yet, it can feel like you are behind the rest of the world. But just like anything else in our lives, everyone is on their own timeline to find their passion. Sometimes, like me, we think something is our passion, our dream, just to find out that it was just a way to express that passion. Other times, we try to be passionate about something so that we can fit in with our friends and family.

God gives us passions at different times in our lives for different reasons. Usually, they seem to work together (like teaching and being an officer) based on our core values. I find that my core values spark my passions. My core values, for example, are showing God’s love to others and helping them when I can. These two things are at the very basis of everything that I do. 

It might be hard to describe what you are passionate about. It can even seem daunting. I suggest that you start small. Make a list of things that you enjoy. Once you have your list, you can write down why you enjoy doing those things—dig deep! You will start to see some themes emerging from your reasons. Then, look at the themes that show up multiple times and see how you can accomplish them. Perhaps you like music and theory. You can try to write your own song! 

Finding your passion will take time, and a lot of trial and error! For those who like music and theory, and want to try writing your own song, your first song will not be a world-famous symphony. But when you complete it, take note of how you feel. Did you enjoy the process? Did it challenge you? It’s okay to say no! If you hated it, then it obviously wasn’t your passion. If you enjoyed the process, try again! Just because something is your passion does not mean it will come easily. Any talent comes with a lot of practice. 

You have your whole life to find your passion. It’s never too early or too late to start looking and find it. A friend came to me, discouraged because she could not find a job that coincided with her passion. So, I told her, “Not every job is a calling. Some jobs are meant to pay the bills so that you can spend your free time doing what you love.” It’s okay if your passion and job are not the same thing. 

In 1 Peter 4:10-11, the author talks about how each of us was made with specific gifts and skills. My older brother is a natural people-person. He can get along with everyone and everyone thinks he’s charming—which he is. Growing up, I always wanted to be like him and have that gift. I was awkward and was not great with social settings. But while I was busy wishing for his gift of charm, I was neglecting my own gifts. The same is true for passions. I can wish all day to have a passion for something, but if I continually compare my passions with others’ passions, I will miss out on what God has in store for me. 

First Corinthians 12 tells us that we are each a part of the body of Christ. Like the human body cannot live without the heart or the stomach, the church body needs all kinds of passions to keep going. If everyone was passionate about numbers and budgets, programs would be very lackluster. If everyone’s passion was preaching, we would never have church choirs. In His infinite wisdom, God created each of us as a unique individual with various gifts, talents, and passions. Could you imagine if we were all the same? How boring!

If you have already found your passion, then the next step is to figure out how to use it in the church. Do you like art? Can you teach kids to paint? Are you passionate about music? Join the praise band! Are you all in on justice? Join a mission team! There are an infinite amount of passions, so there are just as many ways to serve! 

If you haven’t found your passion, be patient. You’ll figure it out. In the meantime, try everything. See what sparks and go from there.

10 Steps To Find Your Passion

1. Create a personal vision statement.  
2. Determine your values. 
3. Find your “true north.”  
4. Make a list of things you enjoy doing.  
5. Assess the things you don’t love. 
6. Acknowledge your strengths, achievements, weaknesses, and failures. 
7. Practice journaling. 
8. Embrace a mindfulness practice. 
9. Seek guidance from a coach or mentor. 
10. Surround yourself with people with similar passions.