Today’s guest post is from Jill Hart. Jill’s entrepreneurial career began in her teens when she spent a summer working with her father who ran his own business. When he put her in charge of a Coke machine and allowed her to keep the profits, she saw the benefits of being her own boss. She is the founder of Christian Work at Home Ministries (http://cwahm.com) and the co-author of So You Want To Be a Work-at-Home Mom. Jill has articles published in In Touch Magazine, P31 Woman magazine and Focus on the Family’s Thriving Family Magazine, as well as across the web on sites like DrLaura.com. She speaks to audiences around the country about faith and business topics. Learn more about Jill at JillHart.com.

In junior high school, my passion was chatting on the phone with friends. In high school it was cheerleading. By college, I had grown into a passionate love of knowledge … and Mountain Dew. As we grow and mature our passions change. Each stage of life brings us to a new place with new challenges, and many times these challenges are the seeds that produce new passions in our life

For instance, when I first began my website, I was pretty excited about working from home. I felt God’s calling on my life and I walked forward in that while trying to balance my growing family.

A couple of years later, however, when circumstances caused the need for me to go back into the workplace full-time, leaving my 18 month old with a babysitter, a new challenge faced me. As I drove to work each day with tears streaming down my face I began to realize how many other women must feel this way.

This developed in me a deeper compassion for working moms. It lit the smoldering spark within me and grew it into a wildfire of passion to help other women find ways to make an income from home. When I found myself back home full-time, by the grace of God, it was with a new passion for what God had called me to do.

But, God’s calling isn’t always that clear in our life. What do we do when we’re not sure of what God’s purpose for our work-calling might be? Is there a way to find out?

I believe there is. Here are a few ideas for finding your passion and purpose in work:

Pray Big – We are so often tempted to pray small, weak prayers. We don’t want to risk being disappointed, so we ask for small things. In his book, The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears, pastor and author Mark Batterson says, “Drawing prayer circles around our dreams isn’t just a mechanism whereby we accomplish great things for God. It’s a mechanism whereby God accomplishes great things in us.”

Batterson challenges us to pray BIG and expect big answers from God. So, start circling your desire to find your passion. And don’t be afraid to ask God for specific answers.

Move Forward – I have found that many times I can’t see what God has for me until I’m right in the middle of something else. Isn’t that the way of things? So, we must keep moving forward trusting that God will guide our steps and use each experience to draw us closer to His intended goal.

Romans 5:3-4 reminds us that “but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

Don’t give up. Persevere. Keep moving forward.

Keep Your Eyes Open – As you’re moving forward, taking whatever steps of faith God puts before you, keep your eyes (and your heart) open for new opportunities. Don’t immediately discount something just because it’s not comfortable for you or you haven’t done anything similar before.

A couple of years ago I was asked to lead the Women’s Ministry at our church. I’d never held a position like this and I had ZERO idea of how to do it. And I truly mean ZERO. And so I said no.

But the Holy Spirit was at work in me and after a series of events I felt compelled to accept the position. I have encountered some bumps along the road and I’m learning things the hard way, but there is a joy that underlines all that I do because I know that I am being obedient to God.

Finding our passion can, at times, be hard work. But He promises that if we seek Him above all else, He will show us which path to take. (Proverbs 3:6 NLT)

What about you?  Have you found your passion?  Still looking and praying?  I’d love to hear what your thoughts are on finding your passion!