How Embracing My Calling Breathed New Life into My Faith
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Howard Thurman
I used to think that “coming alive in the Spirit” was something reserved for special people—saints, prophets, or those with some supernatural experience. For the longest time, I thought living out my faith was more about following rules or fitting into a certain mold of what a “good” Christian should look like. But I learned that isn’t really what being alive in the Spirit means.
For me, it happened slowly, not with a flash of lightning or a dramatic moment, but more like a gentle sunrise. I started to notice it when I paid attention to what made my heart feel full, what gave me energy, what made me want to get up in the morning. And I realized it was when I was helping others—listening, encouraging, sharing a bit of hope—that I felt most alive.
Saying “yes” to the call to ministry changed everything. It wasn’t just about having a title or standing up in front of people. It was about letting go of my small plans and saying, “Okay, God, use me however You want.” That’s when I began to experience something different. I felt a joy in serving, a peace when things didn’t make sense, and a courage to love people even when it was hard. Little by little, the Spirit became less of an idea and more of a presence—one that filled my ordinary days with meaning and purpose.
I didn’t become perfect overnight (I’m still not), and sometimes I doubted myself or felt unworthy. But when I focused less on what others expected and more on what made me come alive—the things that God had placed in my heart—I saw real change. I found that when I offered comfort to someone hurting, or walked alongside someone struggling, I felt the Spirit’s presence most clearly. It wasn’t about big, flashy miracles. It was about the small, faithful choices to show up, to listen, to love.
Ministry taught me that being alive in the Spirit is an ongoing process. Sometimes it’s easy to see—like when someone’s life is changed for the better. Other times, it’s a quiet reassurance that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, doing exactly what I was made to do. The Spirit has a way of surprising me with new energy and hope, especially when I feel tired or worn out.
Looking back, I realize my coming alive wasn’t just for my own benefit. Like Howard Thurman said, the world needs people who are truly alive. When I’m at my best, living out my calling with passion and honesty, it spills over to others. It gives them permission to find what makes them come alive, too.
In simple terms, coming alive in the Spirit meant putting aside what I thought I should do, and instead choosing what lights me up inside—the things that reflect God’s love and goodness. It’s about letting the Spirit guide me, trusting that even my small acts of kindness and service matter. And every day, as I keep saying “yes,” I find myself more alive than ever before.
Minister A Francine Green
August 2025
afrancinegreen.com 