The Call Still Stands

Life right now feels uncertain. News headlines can weigh heavily on our hearts. Communities struggle with division. And at times it may seem as though hope itself is fading, but I believe hope simply waits for someone to answer the call. I often reflect on lessons I learned as a little girl growing up in the Baptist Church with my grandmother. The church was more than a building to us. It was a place where we were taught faith, responsibility, and the importance of serving others. The church has always been my moral compass. One scripture that stays with me comes from the Book of Isaiah. In that passage, God asks a question, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And the response comes back with courage and conviction, “Here am I. Send me.” I was recently reminded of this during President Obama’s message at Reverend Jesse Jackson’s memorial.

That moment in scripture represents more than just a calling. It represents a willingness to step forward when the work is difficult. Throughout history, there have always been people who answered that call. Some were well known leaders whose names appear in history books. Others were quiet heroes who served faithfully in their communities, their churches, their families, and their neighborhoods. Many of them faced enormous challenges. Some endured injustice, discrimination, and hardship that most of us today can scarcely imagine. Yet they pressed forward anyway. Because they believed the work mattered. Their courage reminds us of something important, every generation reaches its own crossroads.

A crossroads is that moment when we must decide what kind of people we will be. Will we retreat into discouragement, or will we rise with determination? Will we criticize from the sidelines, or will we contribute to the work of building something better? Crossroads moments test our faith, but they also reveal our strength. Those who choose to move forward become what I often call unshakable. Not because life becomes easier, but because their purpose becomes clearer. They understand that the work of service is rarely convenient. Leadership requires sacrifice. It requires perseverance. And it often requires courage in the face of criticism.

Unfortunately, we live in a time when those who step forward are often torn down more quickly than they are lifted up. We magnify their imperfections rather than recognizing their willingness to serve. But leadership has never required perfection. Leadership requires heart. Leadership requires commitment. Instead of focusing on tearing down those who step forward, perhaps we should pause and ask ourselves a different question, If not them, then who? Answering the call does not always mean standing at the front of the room. Some people are called to lead visibly. Others are called to support the mission quietly. Some organize, some encourage, some teach, and some pray. The important thing is that we do something. Do what we are called to do. People who step forward to serve deserve compassion as they navigate difficult work. Grace does not mean ignoring mistakes. It means recognizing that leadership is a journey of growth. When we extend grace to those who are trying to serve the greater good, we create space for progress instead of division.  We must remember the work never belongs to just one person. It belongs to all of us. God is still raising up people who are willing to serve.

There will always be individuals who hear that quiet call and decide to answer it. People who believe that compassion matters. People who believe justice matters. People who believe our communities deserve hope. And there will always be others who stand beside them to help carry the work forward. The question is not whether the call still exists or if the call still stands. The real question is whether we are willing to answer it. Will we stand up and say, “Lord, send me”? Or be willing to stand beside those who do? Either way, hope continues whenever people choose courage over comfort and service over silence. And as long as there are people willing to answer the call, hope will always remain.

Wendy is the Purpose Partner helping women go from Crossroads to Confidence, from Shaken to Unshakable, from Purpose to Power. To learn more visit WendyGladney.com and ForgivingForLiving.org