Known, Appointed, and Called: Saying Yes to God’s Plan Before We Understand It

The first chapter of Jeremiah has always been one of my favorites.

God says to him,
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

It’s a profound and humbling thought — that God knows us before we are even born, sets us apart, and appoints us to serve Him in specific ways. Long before we have language for calling, vocation, or purpose, God already has a plan.

Ephesians 2:10 echoes this truth beautifully:
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

I deeply relate to Jeremiah’s response — and perhaps you can too — when he pushes back and says, “But I am too young.”
How often do we respond to God’s calling with our own version of that excuse?

I’m too inexperienced.
Too old.
Too afraid.
Too settled.
Too new in my faith.

Even Moses did this. When God called him, Moses insisted he wasn’t a good speaker. God’s response? “Who made your mouth?” (Exodus 4:11)

God responds to Jeremiah in much the same way — not by debating his fear, but by commanding obedience.
“Go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.” (Jeremiah 1:7–8)
He even warns Jeremiah not to be afraid of the people, or God Himself will make him stumble before them (Jeremiah 1:17).

As my husband and I reflected on Jeremiah’s calling, we couldn’t help but see ourselves in the story — not only in our individual callings, but in our shared calling as a married couple.

Being part of a church plant is a perfect example.

When my husband first brought it up, we were driving down Highway 61 in White Bear Lake — nearly two years before we ever moved there. He casually mentioned that a pastor and his wife were starting a church in White Bear Lake and that he believed we were supposed to be part of it.

My knee-jerk response?
“No. I don’t want to.”

I had just gotten married.
He had just been ordained.
I was finally settling into my new church family and finding my place in the body of Christ.

But God had other plans.

Fast forward…

We now live in White Bear Lake.
I left the home I lived in for 24 years.
We left a church family we dearly loved.
My husband became the associate pastor at Faith Fellowship Church.
And our living room has become the church.

I could either get on board — or miss the blessing.

Heeding the call of God is rarely easy. We often feel unqualified, unequipped, or unprepared to go where He sends us. We want clarity before obedience, but Jesus consistently calls us to follow first and trust Him with the outcome.

We may not know where God is leading — but He always does.

Looking back now, we cannot deny God’s hand in assembling the core team for this church plant. A small group of ten adult believers, each uniquely gifted, collectively brought everything needed: pastors, musicians, administrators, business leaders, and teachers for children. Every detail came together in a way only God could orchestrate.

It reminds me again of Jeremiah 1.

God had a plan for each of us before we were born.
He knew us while we were still in our mother’s womb.
And He prepared good works for us long before we ever stepped into them.

Today, even in the midst of trials, I am at peace — because I know I am exactly where God has called me to be. Obedience leads to blessing. And ultimately, obedience brings glory to God.

Like Jeremiah, we are known.
We are appointed.
And when we say yes — even trembling — God proves faithful.