Isaiah 6:8
There are moments in life when you sense that you were made for more.
Not more in the sense of achievement alone, but more in the sense of meaning. You are doing what you are supposed to do—working, striving, building—but somewhere within you, there is a quiet question: Is this all?
In a city like Lagos, that question can easily be drowned out. There is always something to do, somewhere to go, something to pursue. Life is full, schedules are tight, and the pressure to succeed leaves little room for reflection.
But the thing is this: purpose does not disappear simply because you are busy.
It waits.
And when the moment is right, it calls.
The story of Isaiah captures one of those moments. He encounters God—not casually, but in a way that changes everything. He sees the holiness of God, and in that moment, he becomes aware of himself in a way he had not been before.
Before calling comes clarity.
Isaiah does not begin with confidence. He begins with conviction. He sees his own limitations, his own imperfections, his own unworthiness. And this is important, because many people think that purpose begins with ability.
But it does not.
It begins with awareness.
Awareness of who God is.
Awareness of who you are.
And in that space, something happens. God does not reject Isaiah. Instead, He restores him. He prepares him. He makes him ready.
The thing is this: God does not call perfect people. He prepares willing people.
And then comes the question.
“Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”
Notice that God does not force the answer. He asks.
Because calling is not imposed—it is responded to.
And Isaiah answers in a way that has echoed through generations: “Here am I; send me.”
It is a simple response, but it carries depth.
It is not a statement of ability.
It is not a declaration of readiness.
It is a posture of availability.
“Here am I.”
In a place like Lagos, availability is not always easy. Life is demanding. Responsibilities are many. There are expectations to meet, needs to provide for, goals to achieve.
And so when the idea of purpose comes, it is often negotiated.
“I will serve when things settle.”
“I will respond when I have more time.”
“I will commit when I feel more prepared.”
But purpose rarely waits for convenience.
The thing is this: if you wait until everything is perfect, you may never respond.
Isaiah does not ask for details. He does not request clarity on outcomes. He does not negotiate the terms of the assignment.
He simply makes himself available.
And that is where true service begins.
Now, this does not mean that everyone is called to the same thing. Purpose is not identical for all. But the principle remains the same—God calls, and we respond.
For some, that call is within the workplace.
For others, it is within the church.
For many, it is in the quiet spaces of everyday life—how you serve, how you give, how you influence others.
Kingdom living is not limited to the pulpit. It is expressed in the way you live.
The way you handle responsibility.
The way you treat people.
The way you use what has been entrusted to you.
And this is where service becomes real.
Because service is not always visible. It is not always recognised. It is not always rewarded in the way the world defines reward.
But it is always significant.
Jesus Himself speaks about this when He says, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Not successful servant. Not prominent servant. Faithful servant.
Faithfulness is the measure.
And faithfulness begins with a simple decision: to show up, to respond, to be available.
In a city that constantly asks, “What are you achieving?” the Kingdom asks a different question: “Where are you serving?”
And the answer to that question shapes the kind of life you build.
Because a life centred only on self will always feel incomplete. But a life aligned with purpose begins to carry a different kind of weight—a sense of meaning that goes beyond personal success.
So when purpose calls, it may not always be loud. It may not always be dramatic. It may come as a quiet prompting, a gentle conviction, a growing awareness that there is something more.
And when that moment comes, the response does not need to be complicated.
It can be as simple as this:
“Here am I.”
Prayer
Lord, help me to recognise Your call upon my life. Give me the courage to respond, not based on my ability, but on my willingness. Teach me to serve You faithfully in every area of my life. Amen.
- Adapted from Kingdom Living and Service (Volume 6), part of the 12-volume Sermon Notes Series by Rev. Dr. Kayode Ilupeju, now on sale. Contact us for copies or order directly from Amazon.
