Craig Thompson (@CraigThompson)

I heard a man speak once who said, "The need is the call. If you see a need, and you can fill it, then you go do it." That's a generally helpful idea. The problem with that oversimplification is that the more wisdom you have and the more intelligence you have, the more needs you see, and the more you comprehend about problems which affect not just individuals but whole people groups. Seeing a need is important, and it can be part of a calling. But ultimately, being led by the Holy Spirit is necessary in order to prevent wasting your energy and talents on fruitless ventures. God alone knows the fertility of any land (or opportunity), and He also knows which opportunities best suit you. You can truly build the kingdom of God in a thousand places and do good work in each of them. But there are equally a thousand or even ten thousand that you should not endeavor to attempt. Never forget that one little snippet of Truth the Apostle Paul experienced: "Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia" (Acts 16:6). Work, plan, go, do, build, help, invest, plant–but always listen for His guidance.