Episode 53
53 | You Feel Called to More… But Don’t Know How to Discern Your Purpose?
You feel called to more — but you’re not sure what that “more” is, how to discern it, or where to even begin.
In this episode, we’re talking about discernment in a way that actually fits real life — especially if you’re a busy Catholic mom who wants to trust God, hear His voice, and understand your God-given purpose without overthinking or pressure.
Many women spend time in Catholic devotions, prayer, or Bible study asking God, “What am I called to do?” — without realizing they’re asking for God’s entire plan all at once. And that can leave you feeling stuck, confused, or unsure if you’re hearing God correctly.
In today’s conversation, you’ll explore:
- Why discernment can feel confusing even when you’re doing “all the right things”
- What Scripture reveals about how God leads us into purpose over time
- How to approach discerning God’s will without pressure or rushing clarity
- What it looks like to trust God when you don’t yet see the full picture
If you desire to hear God’s voice, understand God’s plan, and discern your purpose with peace, this episode will encourage you, ground you in truth, and remind you that you’re not behind.
Whether you’re driving, folding laundry, or in the middle of mom life, press play, take a deep breath, and let’s do this.
I pray that this episode blesses and encourages you!
Michelle
✨ Next Steps:
- Join the Facebook community — Here
- Subscribe to the weekly The Inner Flame — Here
- Take "What is my God-Given purpose: Where to Begin?" quiz — Here
- Book a 1:1 Discernment Coaching Session — Here
✨ Email: hello@michellebrannam.com
✨ Website: https://MichelleBrannam.com
✨ Listen to Related Episodes:
- 07 | What Do You Seek? A Conversation with Jesus about Your Purpose
- 10 | Unsure of Your Purpose? 3 Essential Steps to Find Your God-Given Purpose
- 18 | You Were Meant for More: Breaking Through Self-Doubt to Discover Your Purpose
🕊️ Scripture Mentioned:
Bible Translation Used: All Scripture is quoted from the Revised Standard Version – Second Catholic Edition (RSV-2CE), The Great Adventure Catholic Bible, © Ascension Press. Used with permission.
Transcript
And what happens when we ask that question?
Speaker A:We do not realize that we're basically asking God, do you feel called for more but you don't know what it is or how to discern it?
Speaker A:You want to follow God's will, but instead of clarity, you feel unsure where to start or what you're even listening for.
Speaker A:In today's episode, we're going to talk about why God doesn't reveal your purpose all at once, how he actually leads, and the simple shift that can bring peace instead of pressure.
Speaker A:If you've been asking God for the whole plan, this episode is for you.
Speaker A:Let's do this.
Speaker A:If you're tired of feeling unsure about your purpose because you don't know how to hear God clearly and you want simple, faith rooted steps to discern his will and move forward with confidence, you're in the right place.
Speaker A:I'm Michelle, a cradle Catholic mom of three and a discernment mentor for Catholic women.
Speaker A:I learned how to move from confusion and overthinking to hearing God's voice clearly and moving forward with confidence in his will.
Speaker A:If you're ready to grow closer to God, discover how God uniquely made you and experience mindset, transformation.
Speaker A:Grab that laundry, pop in those earbuds and let's go.
Speaker A:I remember being pregnant with my daughter.
Speaker A:I was sitting on the couch feeling this ache deep in my heart.
Speaker A:God, what is my purpose?
Speaker A:I wasn't just curious, I was restless.
Speaker A:I was confused and unsure of how to actually listen to Him.
Speaker A:I wanted his plan, but I didn't know where to begin, how to discern his will, or how to hear his voice with clarity.
Speaker A:I read, I prayed, I listened, but I still felt stuck.
Speaker A:I had pieces of understanding but no path forward.
Speaker A:I was afraid of getting it wrong.
Speaker A:And the more I wondered, the more uncertain I felt about that next step.
Speaker A:But something shifted when I intentionally invited God into this process.
Speaker A:Not just in prayer, but in a prayer filled method of discernment.
Speaker A:I began to see direction piece by piece in ways that brought peace instead of confusion.
Speaker A:That clarity, it didn't come from waiting.
Speaker A:It came from learning how to discern God's voice and take intentional next steps that altered his plan for me.
Speaker A:And if you're sitting in that same place, you're wanting to live out God's purpose for your life, but you're unsure where to start, how to discern his will, or even how to take that next step.
Speaker A:You're not alone and you don't have to wander through it by yourself.
Speaker A:You come join me for a discernment coaching session, a personalized time where we'll invite the Holy Spirit.
Speaker A:Look at what God has already placed in your life and begin shaping simple, faithful steps forward.
Speaker A:With that clarity and confidence, go to michellebrandom.com coaching that is M I C H E L L E B R A n n a m.com coaching and the link is also in the show episode description as well.
Speaker A:Let's take this next step together with God leading the way.
Speaker A:All right, let's dive in.
Speaker A:You feel called for more, but you're just unsure what it is or how to discern it, let alone even where do you even start?
Speaker A:I felt that Holy Spirit.
Speaker A:He was gently and persistently prompting me to ponder what my purpose was.
Speaker A:I felt called for more, but I didn't know what it was or even how to discern it properly in a way that was guided by the Catholic faith.
Speaker A:I was not looking for all that Internet noise that's out there or well meaning, but misguided advice.
Speaker A:Instead, I turned to God in prayer to seek his voice for clarity and direction of where to move.
Speaker A:And it took countless hours searching and just sifting through all that Internet noise and misguided advice.
Speaker A:So I understand how you feel because I was there once.
Speaker A:You're showing up for your family, you're juggling responsibilities and you're doing your best to follow God, but inside you're still unsure what He' actually calling you to do.
Speaker A:So that's why today we're going to be talking about this.
Speaker A:We know that spending time with God is important and it's one element of discernment.
Speaker A:So when you and I are spending time with him, the question we need to ask ourselves actually is how are you spending your time with him?
Speaker A:Are you asking him what am I called to do?
Speaker A:What is the whole picture?
Speaker A:Or are you asking God what step to take?
Speaker A:When it came for me, when I was praying to God about what my purpose was when I first started out and if you're like me, you might be wondering, God, what is my purpose?
Speaker A:What did you create me for?
Speaker A:And what happens when we ask that question?
Speaker A:We do not realize that we're basically asking God, what is your entire plan for my life?
Speaker A:Instead, we should actually be talking with God and telling him that we're longing to know our purpose, that we trust that he will reveal it to us.
Speaker A:Just one step at a time so we can say this.
Speaker A:When we're in prayer with God is God, I need your help to figure out my purpose.
Speaker A:I trust that I will feel peace, joy, Fulfillment and purpose in my life with you leading the way.
Speaker A:And when we think about the disciples, Jesus did not tell them everything that would take place when he first met them in John chapter one, it was simply, what do you seek?
Speaker A:Or follow me?
Speaker A:Even when Jesus told Simon that he would be called Caiaphas, translated as Peter, there was no explanation of what that would mean.
Speaker A:Peter did not know that his purpose, his mission, would be to hold the keys to heaven.
Speaker A:He did not know that he would be the first pope, the one that was left in charge of Jesus flock after he left.
Speaker A:That came later.
Speaker A:And I tell you, you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church and I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
Speaker A:And that is in Matthew 16, 18, 19, if you're wanting to know that scripture verse.
Speaker A:So just like the disciples, we do not know where our path will end when God first calls us.
Speaker A:God reveals his purpose, his plan, layer by layer or step by step.
Speaker A:The more time the disciples spent with Jesus, the more he revealed their purpose.
Speaker A:He.
Speaker A:And the same is true for us.
Speaker A:So his plan for us, it gradually unfolds.
Speaker A:And that is the truth of God's character when we read the Bible.
Speaker A:As you listen to this episode, I want to encourage you to just sit with this question and reflect.
Speaker A:Am I asking God to show me his whole plan, or am I asking him what step do you want me to take?
Speaker A:God, you can sit in silence for 5 to 10 minutes.
Speaker A:You can grab your journal, which I highly recommend that you have one, or if not, or a notebook will work just as fine.
Speaker A:There is power in sitting pen to paper and in the silence and just reflecting on that, that is a very powerful tool.
Speaker A:And if you're like, Michelle, I'm not a journaler, then that is fine.
Speaker A:If journaling is not your style, just reflect as you move throughout your day.
Speaker A:I find that a majority of my time God speaks to me as I'm thinking and I'm moving from room to room in my house.
Speaker A:What I don't want you to walk away with is more pressure to figure this out.
Speaker A:What I do want you to know and to anchor to is this, that God, he's already inviting you.
Speaker A:And discernment, it isn't about guessing his will.
Speaker A:It's about learning how to walk with him step by step.
Speaker A:And if you're listening and you're realizing this is me, I feel called more, but I don't know how to discern it or even where to start.
Speaker A:This is exactly what I help Catholic moms as I walk them through inside my one to one discernment coaching sessions.
Speaker A:You don't have to figure it out alone and you don't have to have clarity before you reach it.
Speaker A:So just go to michellebranum.com coaching that is M I C H E L L E B R-A-N-N-A-M.com coaching and the link is also in the episode description as well.
Speaker A:So before we wrap up with prayer and your action step for this week, here are a few things that I really want you to anchor to from today's conversation.
Speaker A:Discernment it isn't just spending time with God, it's how you're talking to him.
Speaker A:And asking God for your purpose is often asking for the whole plan and that's just not how he reveals it to us.
Speaker A:God reveals your purpose one step at a time through a relationship just like he did with the disciples.
Speaker A:Let us pray in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Lord, thank you for the desire you place in our hearts to know you and to follow your will.
Speaker A:Help us to trust you with the steps you reveal even when we can't see the whole picture.
Speaker A:Give us peace in the waiting, courage in the next step, and confidence that you are leading us.
Speaker A:We surrender our plans to you and ask you to guide us one step at a time.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Now let's take this from head to heart because knowing the truth, that's powerful.
Speaker A:But that real change comes when we act one small step at a time.
Speaker A:Spend five to 10 minutes at quiet, maybe with your journal.
Speaker A:Or if journaling is not your style, then you can as you're moving throughout your day, ask God what is the next step that you want me to take?
Speaker A:If you want a gentle way to begin discerning the next step, I created a short God Given Purpose where to Begin quiz and you can take this free short quiz to understand what God may be inviting you into next.
Speaker A:You can take it at michellebranov.com godgivenpurposequiz and that's hyphenated.
Speaker A:So that is M I C H E L l e b R-A-N-N a m.com GodGod given G I V E N Purpose quiz and a link to the free quiz is also in the episode description below.
Speaker A:And remember my beautiful sister in Christ, that God uniquely created you for a unique purpose.
Speaker A:You were made to do great things.
Speaker A:God is within you and you will not fail.
Speaker A:I look forward continuing this journey with you.
Speaker A:I'll meet you next Tuesday for another conversation.
Speaker A:Until then, may God bless you and bring you peace.
Speaker A:I hope you enjoyed today's episode.
Speaker A:If so, take 30 seconds to share it with a friend who's feeling unsure about her purpose and want simple, faith filled steps to discern God's will.
Speaker A:And if you've learned something today, please leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts.
Speaker A:It lights me up to know that this show is helping you.
Speaker A:Okay, time to tackle the laundry and unload the dishwasher.
Speaker A:Gotta go.
Speaker A:I'll see you next Tuesday for another conversation.
