56% of Practicing Christians Believe Understanding Their Calling Is a Solo Journey

New Barna data—now published in You on Purpose, a book by Dr. Stephanie Shackelford and Bill Denzel—sheds light on how U.S. adults, practicing Christians and professional career coaches think about the process of discovering one’s calling.

One finding that church leaders, educators and mentors should take note of: For the most part, people assume they’ll have to journey toward finding their calling by themselves.

Just over half of U.S. adults (57%) and practicing Christians (56%) believe that understanding one’s calling is primarily a solo journey. That leaves roughly one in three disagreeing, and 9 percent of all adults and 7 percent of practicing Christians being unsure.

People have high expectations for where that journey may lead, with most respondents agreeing there is a perfect job waiting for them to discover. A majority of U.S. adults (67%) agrees to some extent, though another quarter (25%) disagrees. Looking specifically at practicing Christians, even higher percentages agree (75%) there is a “best-fit job” waiting for them.

Even if they hope for one perfect profession, Americans still like the idea of having options. Both U.S. adults (85%) and practicing Christians (83%) overwhelmingly agree that having more choices is a good thing in navigating their life’s path.

At notable points, however, professional career coaches’ perceptions largely diverge from the average, countering some of the pressures facing U.S. adults and practicing Christians. In fact, about four in five career coaches disagree that understanding one’s calling is a solo journey or that there is one best job for everyone. Additionally, co-authors Dr. Shackelford and Denzel align with the career coaches interviewed for You on Purpose in asserting that more choices can actually lead individuals to feel overwhelmed or uncertain when it comes to deciding on their calling—especially if they choose to tackle the discovery journey alone.

Taken together, this research points to a major opportunity for church leaders to walk alongside members of their community as they discover their callings and move toward lives marked with deeper confidence, satisfaction and purpose. After all, as shared in a recent Barna article, one in five adults (21%) are looking to the church for teaching and programs that help with vocational well-being. How can your church assure people they aren’t on their own in their vocational discipleship and journey toward purpose?

Further reading and resources:

• You on Purpose, written by Dr. Stephanie Shackelford and Bill Denzel offers leaders and readers alike a four-step process for discovering and carrying out one’s calling with confidence.
• A recent Barna article explored how U.S. adults, generations and Christians are feeling about their vocational well-being, one year into the pandemic. Read that post here.
• Pastor Tim Yee, author of TruMotivate’s six-week study guide, Finding Your TruCenter, shares on the importance of Good & Meaningful work in this blog post.
• Christians at Work, a 2018 report created in partnership with Abilene Christian University, explores how people experience a sense of purpose through their professional lives, taking a close look at Christians who successfully integrate their faith and work.