Pursuit of Calling | Christian Identity and Growth for Men

Thomas Carney, Maxwell Leadership Certified Coach
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

The Pursuit of Calling is a Christian personal growth podcast for men who feel stuck, uncertain, or disconnected from their purpose. If you’re a Christian man struggling with direction, identity, or clarity in your life season, this podcast will help you understand what God may be doing in the middle of it. Each episode explores how God uses struggle, uncertainty, discipline, and growth seasons to shape your identity and reveal your calling—not just your career, but your life purpose and spiritual direction. Through biblical insight, leadership principles (including John Maxwell’s 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth), and real personal stories, you’ll learn how to move from confusion to clarity and from stagnation to forward momentum. Hosted by Thomas Carney, Maxwell Leadership Certified Coach, this show is built for men navigating transition—whether in their faith, career, relationships, or personal identity. You’ll hear conversations and teaching on topics like: • Why you feel stuck even when you’re doing everything “right” • How God develops identity through pressure and pain • What to do when your calling feels unclear • How to build consistency and discipline in your life • How spiritual growth actually leads to practical direction This is not motivational noise. It’s practical, faith-centered clarity for men who are ready to move forward with purpose. If you’re in a season of transition, this podcast will help you understand your struggle—and respond to it with wisdom, faith, and action.

  1. Sep 1

    God’s Calling or Proving Yourself? How to Tell the Difference

    God’s Calling or Proving Yourself? How to Tell the Difference Are you following God’s calling—or asking success to prove your worth? You may be working hard toward a goal that matters, but still feel pressure for it to work, impress people, or prove that you are capable. The goal itself may not be wrong. But what the goal has come to mean about you may deserve an honest look. In this episode, you’ll learn how to examine whether faithfulness or insecurity is driving your next step. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN How to recognize when achievement has become tied to your identityHow to separate failure from your worthHow to examine whose approval you are pursuingHow to take a faithful step without needing a guaranteeHow to discern the difference between calling and proving yourself THREE QUESTIONS TO ASK If nobody were impressed by this, would I still believe it was worth doing?If this doesn’t work, what will I believe about myself?What would my next faithful step be if I didn’t need a guarantee? TRY THIS EXERCISE Complete this sentence: “I do not need this goal to prove that I am __________. My next faithful step is __________.” Make the second blank specific and actionable. Instead of “figure out my calling,” try: Schedule the conversationAsk for wise counselPractice for thirty minutesApply for one opportunityWrite the first page GROW ON PURPOSE WORKSHOP Knowing what is driving you is an important first step. The next challenge is deciding what growth to focus on and what action to take. The free live Grow On Purpose Workshop will help you create a clear, written 90-day goal focused on the man you believe God is calling you to become, along with one specific action to take within the first 48 hours. The Workshop also includes one free private coaching session with Thomas to help you strengthen your goal, identify what may be holding you back, and prepare to pursue what God may be calling you toward well. You can keep your answers private, and you will not be put on the spot to share. Register here: https://grow.pursuitofcalling.com/workshop If this episode helped you, follow The Pursuit of Calling and share it with one Christian man who may be carrying pressure to prove himself. P.S. You can follow The Pursuit of Calling on Spotify and Apple Podcasts: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1B1TjaPvshJa1c7pmecMoK Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pursuit-of-calling-christian-identity-and-growth-for-men/id1700141705

    God’s Calling or Proving Yourself? How to Tell the Difference

  2. Aug 18

    How to Choose What Matters When Everything Feels Urgent

    When every good opportunity feels important, even a productive Christian man can drift—not because he is doing nothing, but because he is reacting to whatever is loudest, closest, or easiest to complete. In this episode of The Pursuit of Calling, I explore how to choose what deserves your attention in this season. I explain how the Eisenhower Matrix separates urgency from importance, why prayer, health, relationships, preparation, and long-term growth often receive the leftovers, and why seeking wisdom early requires becoming teachable. I also reflect on Proverbs 3:5–6 and the tension between wanting God’s direction and wanting certainty about the destination before taking the next step. Use these questions to examine your own priorities: What truly matters in this season?What can wait without you abandoning it?Who can help you see what you may be missing?You do not need to solve every part of your life today. Choose one honest place to begin. Learn more about the free live Grow On Purpose Workshop: [Workshop link] By the end of the Workshop, you will have a clear, written 90-day goal and one specific action to take within the next 48 hours. Your answers can remain private, and you will not be put on the spot to share.

  3. Aug 4

    Where to Start When You Know You Need to Grow

    You know you need to grow—but where should you start? When every area of life feels like it could improve, it is easy to improve nothing. After spending a week preparing for a Zoom workshop, Thomas opened the room—and nobody showed up. The disappointment was difficult, but his response revealed something more important: a place where his character needed to grow. In this episode, Thomas gives Christian men a simple three-question Tension Test to compare the areas where they feel stuck and choose one honest place to begin. THE TENSION TEST Cost: What is staying the same costing me?Calling: Would growth here help me become the man God is calling me to be?Control: Is there something here I can practice now?After testing each possible growth area, complete this sentence: “My starting point is growing in __________, because staying the same is costing __________, and growth here would help me become a man who __________.” IN THIS EPISODE Why drifting is not always lazinessHow temporary relief can become a patternThe difference between a desired outcome and a growth gapHow cost, calling, and control reveal where to beginWhy you do not need to fix every part of your life at onceHow your character prepares you to carry your callingSCRIPTURE MENTIONED Psalm 139 FREE GROW ON PURPOSE WORKSHOP Knowing where to grow is the first step. The next challenge is turning that awareness into an intentional direction. At the free live Grow On Purpose Workshop, you will create a clear, written 90-day goal focused on the man you believe God is calling you to become. You will also choose one specific action to take within the first 48 hours. Thomas will guide you through the process using the Grow On Purpose Workbook. You can keep your answers private, and you will not be put on the spot to share. Register for the free Grow On Purpose Workshop What is the one quality you need to grow right now? Discipline, courage, focus, consistency, faithfulness—or something else? If this episode helped you find one honest place to begin, follow Pursuit of Calling and share it with one Christian man who may need it. CHAPTERS 00:00 Hard Moments Reveal Growth 01:56 Drifting Shapes Your Character 05:13 Cost, Calling, and Control 08:45 Choose Your Starting Point

    Where to Start When You Know You Need to Grow

  4. Jul 22

    Why Every Christian Man Needs at Least One Mentor

    Some of the most important lessons a mentor teaches happen when he is not trying to teach anything. In this Pursuit Bite, Thomas shares how two mentors shaped more than his knowledge: Jim Fink modeled grace and helped him plan a major career decision, while Marc Serrao demonstrated that success should never make a leader too important to notice the person who needs help. Key takeaways A mentor should not replace your responsibility to think, decide, and do the work.Character is a stronger qualification than impressive results alone.Proverbs 15:22 points toward many advisers, not one person who covers every area.Mentors can help you avoid preventable mistakes and months of repair.Start with coffee and thoughtful questions; do not force a ten-year commitment.Humility, curiosity, and willingness to listen make guidance useful.Scripture mentioned Proverbs 15:22People and resources mentioned Jim FinkMarc Serrao and Oakmont BakeryFree Grow on Purpose Workbook: https://grow.pursuitofcalling.comPodcast chapters 00:00 The lessons mentors never say 00:44 Why every man needs a mentor 01:06 Jim Fink and faithful example 01:24 A lens of grace 01:58 Counsel for a life-changing decision 02:21 Marc Serrao: character in business 03:57 Proverbs 15:22 and many advisers 04:33 Borrow someone else's wisdom 05:07 Where do you need guidance? 06:07 The Grow on Purpose Workbook 06:29 Results matter; character matters more 07:01 Closing encouragement

    Why Every Christian Man Needs at Least One Mentor

  5. Jul 14

    God Stretches You Before He Expands You | The Law of the Rubber Band

    God may be using the tension you want to escape to strengthen your faith, courage, and capacity. Thomas shares how comfort, chronic illness, accountability, and a major career transition taught him to take the next faithful step before he had the full map. Are you in an uncomfortable, uncertain, or painful season—and wondering what God is doing through it? In this episode of The Pursuit of Calling, Thomas Carney explores why the tension between where you are and where you could be may be an invitation to grow rather than evidence that God has abandoned you. He shares how a COVID furlough exposed the difference between rest and drift, how muscular dystonia stretched his faith and discipline, how a friend challenged his excuses, and how leaving software development to pursue coaching expanded his capacity. Grounded in John Maxwell’s Law of the Rubber Band and biblical principles from Philippians 3, Romans 5, and Proverbs 27:17, this episode will help Christian men respond to discomfort with faith and take one practical step toward their God-given calling—even without a complete map. IN THIS EPISODE • How comfort quietly turns into drift • Why God may use discomfort to stretch your vision, faith, courage, and capacity • What suffering can produce without pretending it does not hurt • Why people who challenge your excuses are essential to growth • Three questions that reveal your next faithful step REFLECTION QUESTIONS 1. Where have I become so comfortable that I’ve started drifting? 2. What might God be developing in me through this season? 3. Who is stretching me—and am I willing to listen? FREE RESOURCE Download the Grow On Purpose Workbook: https://grow.pursuitofcalling.com If this episode helped you see your current season differently, share it with another Christian man who may need the encouragement and leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Chapters 0:00 When Comfort Becomes Drift 0:37 Welcome to The Pursuit of Calling 1:02 How COVID Exposed My Drift 2:40 Why God Uses Stretching Seasons 3:43 Comfort Won’t Make You Come Alive 5:11 Question 1: Where Have You Started Drifting? 6:11 When Pain Stretches Your Faith 9:04 Question 2: What Is God Developing in You? 9:38 How God Uses People to Challenge You 11:22 Question 3: Who Is Stretching You? 12:03 Leaving My Job Stretched My Capacity 13:18 The Pattern Behind My Growth 13:42 Three Questions for Your Week 14:20 Choose Your Next Faithful Step 15:27 Don’t Waste the Stretching

    God Stretches You Before He Expands You | The Law of the Rubber Band

  6. Jul 7

    You’re Not Stuck—You’re Believing a Lie About Your Identity

    Most people aren’t stuck because they lack opportunity—they’re stuck because of limiting beliefs, fear, and identity confusion they don’t even realize they’re carrying. In this episode of The Pursuit of Calling, I sit down with licensed trauma therapist Michelle Croyle to talk about Christian mindset, emotional healing, and how internal beliefs shape your ability to step into your God-given calling. We unpack how fear of failure, comparison, and past trauma patterns quietly keep Christian men and women stuck in cycles of self-doubt, procrastination, and settling for less than their potential. This conversation is especially for you if you’re searching for things like: how to stop feeling stuck in life as a Christian manwhy am I afraid to pursue my callinghow to overcome limiting beliefs and fearChristian mindset for purpose and directionhow to find your God-given callingovercoming comparison and insecurity as a believerWe talk about: Why it’s actually “selfish” not to use your God-given giftsHow fear and comfort quietly shape your decisions in life and careerWhy discomfort is often a sign of personal growth and spiritual developmentThe hidden beliefs that keep you stuck in identity confusion and comparison trapsHow small, consistent steps lead to long-term purpose and calling clarityWhat it actually looks like to begin emotional healing and mindset renewalIf you’ve ever felt stuck, behind, unqualified, or unsure of your direction—this episode will challenge the way you see yourself and your calling. 🎧 Subscribe for weekly episodes on Christian personal growth, discipline, identity, and pursuing your God-given purpose. 📌 CHAPTERS 00:00 - It's Selfish Not to Use the Gift God Gave You | Welcome to The Pursuit of Calling 01:02 - Michelle Croyle Intro + EMDR Therapy Explained 03:21 - Why This Applies to Men Too 05:01 - Breaking Out of Limiting Identity 07:06 - Why People Settle for Less 09:00 - Living Below Your Potential 11:02 - Fear and Survival Wiring 13:00 - Catching the Lies You Believe 14:26 - Turning Weakness Into Strength 17:09 - The Measuring Stick Problem 19:01 - Opinion vs Wisdom 21:39 - Discomfort vs Danger 23:55 - 13 Years of Small Steps 26:46 - Tools for Self-Discovery 27:38 - Where to Find Michelle Croyle

    You’re Not Stuck—You’re Believing a Lie About Your Identity

  7. Jun 30

    Why Your Weakness Might Be Where God Builds Your Strength

    Most men are focused on success on the outside—but struggle with who they are on the inside. In this episode of The Pursuit of Calling, we explore John Maxwell’s Law of the Ladder and what it really means to grow into your calling through character development, humility, and inner transformation. I also share personal stories from leadership in the local church and my journey through muscular dystonia—how losing physical strength forced me to rebuild identity from the inside out. This is a conversation about becoming the kind of man who can carry the calling God has placed on his life. 📌 In This Episode Character vs appearance and why it mattersHow identity gets shaped in hidden seasonsLeadership lessons from early church responsibilityWhat muscular dystonia taught me about purposeWhy humility unlocks growthThe Law of the Ladder explained in real life 🧠 Episode Themes Character development, Christian identity, purpose, calling, leadership growth, humility, inner transformation, faith and adversity, men’s spiritual growth, personal development, John Maxwell laws of growth 🔥 Listener Takeaway God is not only concerned with where you are going—but who you are becoming on the way there. Your character is being formed in the unseen places long before your calling is fully revealed. Follow The Pursuit of Calling on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for weekly episodes on identity, purpose, and growth. If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who is in a season of transition or searching for direction. 👉 Join the Pursuer Circle (group coaching for Christian men in transition): https://circle.pursuitofcalling.com

    Why Your Weakness Might Be Where God Builds Your Strength

  8. Jun 23

    How God Uses Suffering to Shape Your Identity, Purpose, and Calling | The Law of Pain

    Are you feeling stuck, struggling to understand God's purpose, or wondering why you're walking through a painful season? In this episode of The Pursuit of Calling, we explore how God uses suffering, adversity, and difficult seasons to shape your identity, reveal your calling, and develop spiritual growth. Many Christian men feel stuck because they can't see what God is doing in the middle of their struggle. But pain has a way of exposing what needs to change, strengthening character, and preparing you for the purpose God has placed on your life. I also share a personal story from my own journey—including chronic pain and a recent business setback that almost kept me from recording this episode. If you're walking through uncertainty, frustration, disappointment, or a season that feels slow, this conversation will help you see your circumstances through a different lens. In this episode: • Why pain introduces you to yourself • Why most people never grow from difficult seasons • How suffering reveals identity shifts you didn't expect • The difference between pain that destroys and pain that develops • What John Maxwell teaches about growth through adversity • How God uses struggle to shape calling and character • My personal experience with chronic pain and business pressure Key Truth: Pain is not always punishment. Sometimes it is formation. Reflection Questions: • What is this season revealing about me? • What pain am I currently trying to avoid? • What might God be teaching me through this? 👉 Join the Pursuer Circle (group coaching for Christian men in transition): https://circle.pursuitofcalling.com If this episode resonates with you, share it with another man who feels stuck right now. Follow the podcast and leave a review if this episode helped you grow.

    How God Uses Suffering to Shape Your Identity, Purpose, and Calling | The Law of Pain
See All (153)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The Pursuit of Calling is a Christian personal growth podcast for men who feel stuck, uncertain, or disconnected from their purpose. If you’re a Christian man struggling with direction, identity, or clarity in your life season, this podcast will help you understand what God may be doing in the middle of it. Each episode explores how God uses struggle, uncertainty, discipline, and growth seasons to shape your identity and reveal your calling—not just your career, but your life purpose and spiritual direction. Through biblical insight, leadership principles (including John Maxwell’s 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth), and real personal stories, you’ll learn how to move from confusion to clarity and from stagnation to forward momentum. Hosted by Thomas Carney, Maxwell Leadership Certified Coach, this show is built for men navigating transition—whether in their faith, career, relationships, or personal identity. You’ll hear conversations and teaching on topics like: • Why you feel stuck even when you’re doing everything “right” • How God develops identity through pressure and pain • What to do when your calling feels unclear • How to build consistency and discipline in your life • How spiritual growth actually leads to practical direction This is not motivational noise. It’s practical, faith-centered clarity for men who are ready to move forward with purpose. If you’re in a season of transition, this podcast will help you understand your struggle—and respond to it with wisdom, faith, and action.

Information