--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As Os Guinness writes, To be sure…" description: "\"“As Os Guinness writes, To be sure, calling is not what it is commonly thought to be. It has to be dug out from under the rubble of ignorance and confu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/charles-r-swindoll-878_calling_as-os-guinness-writes-to-be-sure-calling_1680195.png" --- # As Os Guinness writes, To be sure, calling is not what it… ![“As Os Guinness writes, To be sure, calling is not what it is commonly thought to be. It has to be dug out from under the rubble of ignorance and confusion. And, uncomfortably, it often flies in the face of our human inclinations. But nothing short of God’s call can ground and fulfill the truest…” quote by Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/charles-r-swindoll-878_calling_as-os-guinness-writes-to-be-sure-calling_1680195.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/charles-r-swindoll-878_calling_as-os-guinness-writes-to-be-sure-calling_1680195.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/charles-r-swindoll-878_calling_as-os-guinness-writes-to-be-sure-calling_1680195.png) > ““As Os Guinness writes, To be sure, calling is not what it is commonly thought to be. It has to be dug out from under the rubble of ignorance and confusion. And, uncomfortably, it often flies in the face of our human inclinations. But nothing short of God’s call can ground and fulfill the truest human desire for purpose.3”” [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True purpose is a divine call that emerges from confusion, opposing our natural inclinations, yet fulfills deepest human desire. **In simple terms:** God’s call gives real purpose. Key Takeaway Seek divine purpose. Themes purpose faith spirituality calling desire Mood contemplative encouraging Type theological motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - life purpose - spiritual discernment Key Concepts theology existential meaning inner guidance Questions to Reflect On - What does purpose feel like for you? - How can you discern a divine call? A Different Perspective Not everyone experiences a clear divine call. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Calling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calling/) [Calling Commonly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calling-commonly-948985/) [Desire Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-purpose-914048/) [Guinness Writes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guinness-writes-948987/) [Sure Calling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sure-calling-948986/) ## Related quotes > [If you are sure that He is calling and you can be sure that He will also remove the barriers that would preclude your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sills/if-you-are-sure-that-he-is-calling-and-you-can-be-sure-that-he-will/) [David Sills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sills/) > [“Traditional education tended to ignore the importance of personal impulse and desire as moving springs. But this is no reason why progressive education should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/traditional-education-tended-to-ignore-the-importance-of-personal/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [“I don’t hoard, exactly, but I get it. It’s a response to our need and desire for purpose, order, definition, and a fortress. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-maron/i-don-t-hoard-exactly-but-i-get-it-it-s-a-response-to-our-need-and/) [Marc Maron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-maron/) > [“Vronsky meanwhile, in spite of the complete fulfilment of what he had so long desired, was not completely happy. He soon felt that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/vronsky-meanwhile-in-spite-of-the-complete-fulfilment-of-what-he-had/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [You cannot entirely control your subconscious mind, but you can voluntarily hand over to it any plan, desire, or purpose which you wish transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/you-cannot-entirely-control-your-subconscious-mind-but-you-can/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [It is only when men associate with the wicked with the desire and purpose of doing them good, that they can rely upon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hodge/it-is-only-when-men-associate-with-the-wicked-with-the-desire-and/) [Charles Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hodge/) > [To desire to be what one can be is purpose in life. There are no exterior forces. There are only interior forces. Who squanders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-ozick/to-desire-to-be-what-one-can-be-is-purpose-in-life-there-are-no/) [Cynthia Ozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-ozick/) > [NBC is making a movie about Martha Stewart that will cover the recent stock scandal. They are thinking of calling it 'The Road To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/nbc-is-making-a-movie-about-martha-stewart-that-will-cover-the-recent/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [“Duty is a done deal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/duty-is-a-done-deal/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [God is not calling us to go to church; he is calling us to be his church, the hope of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/god-is-not-calling-us-to-go-to-church-he-is-calling-us-to-be-his/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [“The power of imagination is strongest in the place of solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-power-of-imagination-is-strongest-in-the-place-of-solitude/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) ## More by Charles R. Swindoll > [This tendency to avoid problems and the emotional suffering inherent in them is the primary basis of all human mental illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/this-tendency-to-avoid-problems-and-the-emotional-suffering-inherent/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Grace is ours. Let's live it! Deny it or debate it and we kill it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/grace-is-ours-let-s-live-it-deny-it-or-debate-it-and-we-kill-it/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Cults use our vocabulary, but they don't use our dictionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/cults-use-our-vocabulary-but-they-don-t-use-our-dictionary/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [No pressure is greater than God's power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/no-pressure-is-greater-than-god-s-power/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Go God's way! His is the most reliable route to follow when life gets complicated. It will have its tough moments, but you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/go-god-s-way-his-is-the-most-reliable-route-to-follow-when-life-gets/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [For there to be true maturity, people must be given room to grow, which includes room to fail...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/for-there-to-be-true-maturity-people-must-be-given-room-to-grow-which/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Anyone who influences others is a leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/anyone-who-influences-others-is-a-leader/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Nothing is so common as unsuccessful men with talent. They lack only determination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/nothing-is-so-common-as-unsuccessful-men-with-talent-they-lack-only/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Faith is like lighting the torch that passes from one person to the next. You can't light the torch of another if yours isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/faith-is-like-lighting-the-torch-that-passes-from-one-person-to-the/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude... When my attitudes are right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/i-believe-the-single-most-significant-decision-i-can-make-on-a-day-to/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Two words will help you cope when you run low on hope: accept and trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/two-words-will-help-you-cope-when-you-run-low-on-hope-accept-and-trust/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Thanksgiving speaks in clear, crisp tones of forgotten terms, like integrity - bravery - respect - freedom - discipline - sacrifice - godliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/thanksgiving-speaks-in-clear-crisp-tones-of-forgotten-terms-like/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [All he asks is that we trust Him, that we stand before Him in integrity and faith. God is just waiting for us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/all-he-asks-is-that-we-trust-him-that-we-stand-before-him-in/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Adversity is a good test of our resiliency, our ability to cope, to stand back up, to recover from misfortune. Adversity is a painful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/adversity-is-a-good-test-of-our-resiliency-our-ability-to-cope-to/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [I am a preacher. I'm involved in many other things, but, mainly, I preach. And I love it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/i-am-a-preacher-i-m-involved-in-many-other-things-but-mainly-i-preach/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) [Explore all 343 Charles R. Swindoll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) ## More Calling quotes > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [“The power of imagination is strongest in the place of solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-power-of-imagination-is-strongest-in-the-place-of-solitude/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [God is not calling us to go to church; he is calling us to be his church, the hope of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/god-is-not-calling-us-to-go-to-church-he-is-calling-us-to-be-his/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [“Duty is a done deal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/duty-is-a-done-deal/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [NBC is making a movie about Martha Stewart that will cover the recent stock scandal. They are thinking of calling it 'The Road To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/nbc-is-making-a-movie-about-martha-stewart-that-will-cover-the-recent/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [“There is no interaction without God with interaction with men”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/there-is-no-interaction-without-god-with-interaction-with-men/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [When I was a little boy, I was reading Dante and I was saying to myself 'Bravo, Dante, Bravo.' It's so beautiful, the music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-benigni/when-i-was-a-little-boy-i-was-reading-dante-and-i-was-saying-to/) [Roberto Benigni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-benigni/) > [ I don't see \[ Trainspotting \] as an albatross, I see it more as a calling card. It's got me out to Hollywood, I've… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-don-t-see-trainspotting-as-an-albatross-i-see-it-more-as-a-calling/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [After I finished college, I got a job on Wall Street as a derivatives trader, but after a couple years of it, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/after-i-finished-college-i-got-a-job-on-wall-street-as-a-derivatives/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [\*Calling someone I don't want to answer\* \*Please go to voice mail. Please go to voice mail. Please go to voice mail..\* Hello? -\_\_\_-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/calling-someone-i-don-t-want-to-answer-please-go-to-voice-mail-please/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Sometimes you hear a voice through the door calling you... This turning toward what you deeply love saves you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/sometimes-you-hear-a-voice-through-the-door-calling-you-this-turning/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Please be slow to judge ‘brothers’ who have a different calling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/please-be-slow-to-judge-brothers-who-have-a-different-calling/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) [Browse all 3,811 Calling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calling/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“As Os Guinness writes, To be sure, calling is not what it is commonly thought to be. It has to be dug out from under the rubble of ignorance and confusion. And, uncomfortably, it often flies in the face of our human inclinations. But nothing short of God’s call can ground and fulfill the truest human desire for purpose.3”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles R. Swindoll" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/as-os-guinness-writes-to-be-sure-calling-is-not-what-it-is-commonly/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Calling" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/as-os-guinness-writes-to-be-sure-calling-is-not-what-it-is-commonly/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/charles-r-swindoll-878_calling_as-os-guinness-writes-to-be-sure-calling_1680195.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/charles-r-swindoll-878_calling_as-os-guinness-writes-to-be-sure-calling_1680195.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/charles-r-swindoll-878_calling_as-os-guinness-writes-to-be-sure-calling_1680195.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As Os Guinness writes, To be sure, calling is not what it is commonly thought to be. It has to be dug out…” — Charles R. Swindoll", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Charles R. Swindoll", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“As Os Guinness writes, To be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/as-os-guinness-writes-to-be-sure-calling-is-not-what-it-is-commonly/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/as-os-guinness-writes-to-be-sure-calling-is-not-what-it-is-commonly/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```