When Passion Becomes Pressure

“Find your calling.”
“Follow your passion.”
“Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

These mantras sound empowering. Motivational. Maybe even biblical. But what if they’re setting us up for burnout instead of purpose?

We’re told that the secret to a fulfilling life is merging what we love with how we earn. That if we could just “find our thing,” everything else joy, confidence, peace would fall into place. But turning passion into profession is more complicated than it seems. When your art, ministry, or creative outlet becomes your career, it also inherits all the pressures that come with a paycheck: deadlines, criticism, imposter syndrome, and the quiet fear that your best work is already behind you.

This isn’t just a logistical problem it’s a spiritual one. We’ve blurred the lines between passion, calling, and career. And that confusion can leave many Christians feeling lost, discouraged, or quietly ashamed.

The Myth of the Perfect Calling

Liz Bohannon, founder of Sseko Designs and author of Beginner’s Pluck, dismantles this myth with clarity. “You will never find your passion and purpose,” she writes not because you’re not trying hard enough, but because that’s not how it works.

“Passion isn’t a preexisting condition,” she explains. “A life of purpose and passion can’t be found. It is the result of being brave, curious, and, dare I say, plucky? You do not find your passion and purpose. You build it.”

This reframing could spare many from burnout and spiritual fatigue. Because the pressure to “find your calling” can turn what should be a joyful exploration into a shame-laced search. If you’re not wildly successful by 25, or still unsure of your path at 35, you feel behind as though you missed your destiny.

But purpose isn’t a one-time discovery. It’s a lifelong process of faithfulness.

The Burden of Monetizing Your Passion

The idea that every gift should generate income is a lie wrapped in productivity. We’re told that if we’re not monetizing our talents, we’re wasting them. But sometimes turning your passion into a profession doesn’t amplify your joy it depletes it.

That guitar you loved strumming? Now it’s a side hustle with streaming stats and social media strategies. That ministry role you felt called to? It now comes with KPIs, performance reviews, and a constant pressure to be “on.”

There’s nothing wrong with loving your work. In fact, Scripture encourages diligence and excellence. “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23). But our worth was never meant to hinge on productivity or performance.

Biblical Calling Is About Identity

Scripture doesn’t define calling as a dream job or Instagrammable mission. Jesus called fishermen and tax collectors. Paul made tents. Many biblical figures did ordinary, even mundane work and yet their lives were marked by faithfulness, not fame.

Your calling is less about your title and more about your posture: are you listening? Are you loving your neighbor? Are you glorifying God with what’s in front of you?

Instead of asking, “What’s my calling?” try asking, “Where can I serve right now?” God’s direction often becomes clearest not in lightning-bolt moments, but in small, daily faithfulness.

You’re Not Behind

According to the Stanford Center on Adolescence, 80% of people say they haven’t found their passion. So if you’re unsure where you’re headed, you’re not alone. You’re also not doing life wrong.

Maybe we’ve been asking the wrong questions. Instead of hunting for some grand destiny, what if we simply asked, “What am I interested in?” Bohannon suggests that’s enough. Passion grows through curiosity and courage, not certainty.

And for followers of Christ, that’s actually more biblical. Faithfulness rarely starts with clarity. Abraham went without knowing where. Moses doubted his ability. Mary said yes without a five-year plan. Their calling wasn’t found. It was formed in obedience.

The Path Is Made by Walking

Spiritual maturity can’t be hacked. Purpose can’t be rushed. There’s no secret formula to guarantee fulfillment. And sometimes the job you thought was your dream turns out to be a detour. That’s not failure. That’s formation.

In a world obsessed with “living your best life,” Scripture invites us to something deeper: surrender. Trust. Obedience. God is more interested in your becoming than your branding.

As the poet Antonio Machado wrote, “Traveler, there is no path. The path is made by walking.”

So keep walking. Not because you’ve found your calling, but because you’re building it one faithful step at a time.

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