Doing What You’re Called to Do — Even When You Don’t Feel Like Doing the Hard Stuff

Art of the 7th Lily

February 16, 2026

Yeah…that part!

THE HARD STUFF

Ever have a calling, and you know…that you know…that you KNOW is what you’re truly meant to be doing? The thing that continuously nags at you all the time — beckoning you to fulfill.

But in its pursuits; though it may bring you joy; there are a ton — and I mean a TON of obstacles you gotta walk through, sometimes weary and worn.

You take one step forward, then get knocked back three steps.

Bro…sis…the struggle is real!

In those moments, you’re so tired, and you just want to give up, and you just wonder if it’s worth it.

I know you know what I’m talking about…

True?

But what exactly is a calling?

Here’s a clue…

It’s your soul’s purpose — the works that you’re meant to fulfill that draw you closer to peace, joy, emotional & mental contentment, and potentially financial freedom.

Your soul’s purpose is not based on the fleshly desires of an “egoic want” of worldly materialism or selfishness.

It’s not about taking center stage or competing either.

It’s the thing that keeps you energized, yields groundedness, brings stillness, and centers your soul within your physical being.

It’s the thing that brings you closer to the Divine, to oneness with all things.

Now, success (whatever it is, as defined by the individual) could very well be a byproduct of your so-called calling. But it’s not the goal.

Foremost, it’s the thing that Spirit has placed as a seed within your heart that you’re pulled to and naturally gravitate towards. Knowing the difference between “selfish wanting” and “calling” is based on the intention.

What is intention?

It’s the purpose that it’s meant to facilitate, in every aspect of how it impacts you, and essentially, how it impacts the world around you. Meaning, what’s the ideal?

A spiritual ideal is a guiding principle or divine standard that represents your highest aspiration for living in alignment with your soul’s purpose. It’s not just a goal — it’s a sacred compass that shapes your thoughts, choices, and actions toward a deeper connection with the Divine — including yourself, and all things.

Once again, I’m talking about oneness.

Okay, let’s not go down that rabbit hole right now.

But let me say this…

Suppose the intention is rooted in the ego to obtain something from the world while disregarding the causing impact (potentially things like spiritual, emotional, physical, and/or psychological harm) to others in the process. In that case, that’s more likely your “flesh,” or rather, your “egoic mind” seeking a particular thing.

However, if the intention is rooted in love, peace, and goodwill by doing something that benefits not only yourself, but also considers the impact of others in the process (not people pleasing — there’s a difference, and a whole other topic), then that’s more than likely the Creator asking and guiding you in a particular thing.

This is your CALLING!

See?

Now, I say “asking” because Spirit knows that we have free will. Free will was intentionally given to us by the Creator. God/Spirit cannot essentially force you to take a particular path if you don’t want to.

We’ve been created to make our own decisions and take our own actions. However, I think it would behoove us to be willing to set aside our own ways if we truly want to align with the Oneness of the Creator, for our soul’s purpose.

So yes! We have our calling, but sometimes we must do things, and at times we must continue to do things we don’t feel like doing in order to fulfill that calling.

Why?

Because anything truly worth having doesn’t come easily.

Why?

Because, like most, we’ve established connections to things, places, and people that aren’t aligned with what we’re essentially meant to do, which become distractions and blockages.

Thus, the effort to realign and “course correct” us back to our calling isn’t always easy. However, the creative process of building and following through flows naturally.

You know what I mean?

Sometimes the reasons for it are far more than what we can see or comprehend in our humanness. Far more than our own well-being, desires, or wishes. As I said, the ideal isn’t solely about you — but also the impact of others and the world around you.

From the highest perspective of Spirit, it’s to bless people through you, also.

Being willfully guided by the pure light that’s been placed within you — assisting all of creation, and not just humanity…but everything that teams with life force.

As I said, it’s true that some of the tasks are things you just don’t want to do. Especially, the exorbitant amount of prolonged time & effort that can become daunting in their undertaking day in and day out.

It can feel somewhat painful and deeply frustrating, leaving you fed up.

So, you put it down and say, “What’s the point?”

The point is, it was chosen for you to do it! For YOU to carry it out.

Say you’re into crocheting: you like making blankets, scarves, and beanies. You have true joy and peace that washes over you when you’re creating fiber art. While you’re working the stitches — row by row…you’re in a meditative state. Not thinking about the past nor the future.

You’re enveloped in the present moment.

However, you don’t make hardly any sales, or possibly none, and all the while, you’re juggling a full-time job.

Now, every season you try out new patterns. Most of them are just trial runs with practice skeins of yarn. A lot of time, patience, and effort go into each creation, and you have no intention of selling the practice runs. So, you decide that as part of your little handcrafting crochet business (that feels like it’ll never make it past a hobby you tinker with), you’re going to donate all of the practice pieces that you made to a shelter for people who are truly in need of warm garments during the winter months.

Now get this…

Potentially, a person who’s without a home in the middle of winter is wearing layers, and one of those garments was obtained from the shelter you donated to for hard times.

See the impact?

It’s not just about you; it’s about the greater good, just from that calling that keeps nagging at you.

And you think it’s just small potatoes, with no real significance or meaning.

Even potatoes provide sustenance.

Let’s take it one step further to show you the importance…

.  .  .

NOT BY FORCE, BUT WILLINGNESS

In some cases, there could be significant impacts with potential catastrophic consequences that we may not fully see or comprehend, but the Divine is at the finish line, seeing the course corrections needed, and has asked you to participate in the redirection.

How heavy is that one?!

Let’s get into it…

The story of Jonah many know.

Let me catch you up if you don’t — he was one of the prophets in the bible.

Okay, so…he’s a guy who was given the “calling” (a gift) of being a prophet.

A chosen employee of the Divine.

That’s a big job, bro…

Now…I’m sure it was cool! He was probably like, “Yeah, I be kickin’ it with the Lord, we be vibin’ on some convos…man…that’s what’s up,” until he was asked to do something he didn’t want to do.

Hmm….

Now, I want you to get this… this man was asked…

Let me say it again….

He was ASKED, not commanded, but asked to fulfill a need: the Lord needed the Prophet Jonah to go to Ninevah as a messenger.

To put it plainly, he was God’s mouthpiece.

He was called, or rather, asked to go to the people of Ninevah, tell them to repent and turn away from their iniquity (sinfulness) by realigning their ways, values, and ideals back to the Creator.

And check it…you guessed it…

This guy was like, “I ain’t doin’ that!”

This brotha man refused to go!

Now, if you know anything about the history of the people of Jerusalem and the people of Ninevah, Ninevah was a nation that at some point enslaved and brutally oppressed the people of Israel — and I’d be willing to bet that Jonah obviously knew this and had profound distaste for that land and its people.

Now understand, just because he was a prophet didn’t mean he wasn’t still yet human! Just because he had the calling didn’t mean he didn’t face challenges, even emotional ones.

I can just imagine his response, like, “You want me to go and help a nation that enslaved us and treated us with extreme brutality? It wasn’t that long ago, Lord…not that long ago at all! God, are you trippin’? You must have your wires crossed and be talking to the wrong one! I ain’t going there! No no…no, I ain’t!”

Now, if it were me, I know I’d be feeling a certain kind of way too…honestly.

This is a clear example of a person who’s been blessed with a gift, but when faced with an obstacle, the gift feels heavy and burdensome.

It proves that even though he was a prophet, he also chose to exercise his free will, doing something other than what he was asked to do. He wanted what he wanted in the moment…NOT what Spirit asked of him.

See, Spirit was thinking a gazillion steps ahead, knowing the implications for a whole nation.

However, with the gift of prophecy that was bestowed upon Jonah, he was given the task to go there as a messenger…anyway.

As I said, that was his job, which he held under the Most-High Spirit/God.

Sometimes those pesky emotions can make us a bit fickle — it's NOT enough to just control them, but rather to master them.

Another topic, another day.

Now, Jonah instead takes a different path.

He decides to board a ship, going in the opposite direction from where he was asked to go.

Stubborn as he was, “Nah…I’m not going there! I have different plans, and I’m heading to Tarshish. Now what?!”

Like, he decided to leave home and go somewhere else?

Like, brotha man — are you going on vacation or somethin’?

He could have just stayed home.

Like really?!

This dude was evading. He was running.

Clearly.

And you know God was like, “Yo, bro, I gave you this gift to work with me. Where are you goin’? Oh, is it like that? Okay…watch and find out!”

Okay, the dialogue may not have been that cray-cray, but you know the energy of the situation was pretty deep, okay?

Now, I want you to see something…

By NOT answering the “call”, Jonah was essentially putting many people in the path of a dangerous consequence that could have far-reaching implications, including his own life. However, by GOING and choosing the direction he was called to go, he would become a guiding light and a beacon of hope for others — regardless of how he felt emotionally and mentally about the people of Ninevah.

Plainly put, our decisions can be the cause of cascading destruction & ruin, or a blessing & healing with a ripple effect…like a pebble tossed in a pond.

.  .  .

TIME TO SINK OR SWIM

A very long story short…

Jonah was on that boat, sleeping below, when a storm came. However, everyone else who was aboard was petrified, praying to many gods for safety and forgiveness. And yet, Jonah knew why the storm came — he even proclaimed and owned up to the reason for it. He disregarded the mission, disregarded the call, to go to Ninevah from the God he served. Ultimately, after heavy deliberation and an attempt to row back to shore that was failing, it was decided to throw him overboard; the storm would stop, and it did.

Side Note: The sailors and passengers on that ship were astonished, and they turned and prayed and began to worship the Lord that Jonah served.

So, what does this say?

It means, even when you deliberately decide to go the wrong way, that you know you’re not meant to — Spirit doesn’t waste anything and still will bless others through you. So, the lives and souls of the individuals on the boat were also affected by his decision, not just those in Nineveh.

Like I said at the beginning of this edit, this is about doing what you’re called to do — even when you don’t feel like doing the hard stuff.

HARD STUFF STINKS SOMETIMES

A few moments later, he was swallowed by a great fish!

He was in the belly of that fish for three (3) days until finally he was vomited out, from which he went up on the banks of the sea, not too far from the place he was avoiding.

That’s right, came straight out the way he went in and was chauffeured by God to Ninevah in the belly of a great big fish.

Cod belly! 

Now, this man is gonna show up smelling like rank fish guts and seaweed!

Question: How many days do you think it took to get that smell off him? 

Oooo...

Well, the story goes… he finally delivers the message God intended, the people of Ninevah inevitably repented, and God refrains from bringing great destruction on that nation.

Side Note #2: Jonah was also ticked that the Lord relented and did not bring destruction upon Nineveh. As I said earlier, Jonah more than likely knew the full backstory of Jerusalem and Nineveh. He was mad that God showed them grace, and he knew the Lord would do so. On top of which, Jonah had dedicated his whole life to the Lord, and in a matter of a few days of delivering a message to that land, an entire nation repented of generations of sin and violence, and God showed them grace — immediately??!

Yeah, he was feeling a certain kind of way.

Guaranteed.

Now, Jonah leaves the nation of Nineveh and sits to rest on the edge of the city. Spirit, therefore, made a great big gourd grow above his head, allowing Jonah to take shade from the hot sun and provide comfort overnight; Jonah was glad.

I would be too after a rough journey like that!

Though the following day, God prepared a worm to come and eat upon the gourd for it to shrivel and die with a great east wind kicking up upon Jonah under the blazing sun.

Yeah, now he was mad all over again...

Jonah was so consumed with the gourd and the discomfort from the hot sun and gusty wind that he did not reflect on the fact that the Lord had given it to him.

That it was a gift!

It was the Lord’s choice — the Lord’s will. Just like it was the Lord’s choice, the Lord’s will to grant grace, a gift, to the people of Ninevah — just like the Lord bestowed the gift as a prophet upon Jonah.

For the Lord can give, and the Lord can take it away.

But this points to our gift, our calling.

Your calling is a gift that was assigned to you and meant to be fulfilled by YOU. And yes, it comes with great responsibility to carry it out. It’s something we should honor regardless of the challenges and those pesky obstacles.

It’s easy to do something when it’s always fun!

What’s not easy is sticking to it when faced with the hard stuff.

.  .  .

Bibliography

“Jonah.” The Holy Bible, King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2016. Print.

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