Chasing a Girl… or God’s Calling?

What happens when the person you want most… might not be where God is leading you?

In this episode of a Christian story series about faith, love, and following God’s calling, Hiroto finds himself in the middle of a conversation he never expected.

Once an ambitious student driven by success, Hiroto has begun changing the direction of his life after becoming a Christian. His transformation started when he met Hanaya, a girl deeply passionate about God’s mission. But Hiroto’s sudden change worries his mother, who fears Hanaya’s influence is pulling him away from the future he once worked so hard for.

Hoping someone close to him can bring him back to his senses, Hiroto’s mother turns to Yeona—Hiroto’s childhood friend. After spending two years in Seoul, Yeona has recently returned and now attends the same school and class as Hiroto and Hanaya.

Before Yeona and Hiroto set off for a one-hour trip to Tokyo for some shopping, what begins as a simple conversation quickly turns serious. Yeona confronts Hiroto with hard questions about his choices and the girl who may be influencing his future.

As emotions surface and long-hidden feelings come to light, a surprising confession catches Hiroto off guard.

Now Hiroto must face a deeper question:

Is love distracting him from his purpose?

Is he truly seeking God’s will for his life…
or simply chasing someone he loves?

Hanaya Oki Series:  https://superdifferent.com/hanaya

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:17

Is Hiro ready?

SPEAKER_00 0:19

I think so. He's upstairs. But before you two leave, please talk some sense into him. Maybe you shouldn't have gone to Korea. He got completely bewitched by Hanaya. He won't listen to anyone now. You two used to be close. Maybe he'll listen to you.

SPEAKER_02 0:33

Don't worry, I'm back now. I'll fix him.

SPEAKER_00 0:35

Please do. I'm counting on you.

SPEAKER_03 0:40

Hey, how many times do I have to say knock first?

SPEAKER_02 0:43

Relax. I've been walking into this room without permission since kindergarten.

SPEAKER_03 0:47

That doesn't make it okay.

SPEAKER_02 0:49

If you want privacy, lock the door.

SPEAKER_03 0:51

I shouldn't have to lock my door from you.

SPEAKER_02 0:53

Then suffer the consequences. Now come here. I have something top secret.

SPEAKER_03 0:58

What secret?

SPEAKER_02 0:59

Sit down.

SPEAKER_03 1:01

Ah! Yona, stop! That hurts!

SPEAKER_02 1:03

Good! Maybe twisting your ear will restart your brain.

SPEAKER_03 1:06

What was that for?

SPEAKER_02 1:07

Because apparently you're planning to follow a girl across the world. You seriously think there's only one girl, Hanaya, in the entire universe for you? What? How did you- Oh, please, you think I'm blind? Everyone can see you orbiting around Hanaya like she's the sun. You ever consider the possibility that you might be chasing the wrong girl?

SPEAKER_03 1:26

What's that supposed to mean?

SPEAKER_02 1:27

Forget it. By the way, your parents don't even know you're in love with her. They think you're just making weird career decisions because she influenced you with Christianity.

SPEAKER_03 1:37

Wait, you told them?

SPEAKER_02 1:38

Relax. I didn't. But seriously, it's one thing to become a Christian, it's another to suddenly change your entire life direction. Following a girl to Vietnam or Mongolia or Thailand or wherever? That's extreme, Hirotho. What happened to the competitive high achiever I used to know? Where did that ambitious guy go?

SPEAKER_03 1:59

Uh, staying the same wasn't an option anymore. Right now I'm kind of in between. You know, the messy middle. I left the old path, but I don't really know where the new one leads yet. Everything feels uncertain. But somehow, I'm not as scared of that as I used to be. Strangely, I feel peace, even without having everything figured out. And honestly, I still hope I get to be with Hanaya.

SPEAKER_02 2:25

Peace? That's a new word coming from you. The hero though I remember used to panic if he got a 97 instead of 100.

SPEAKER_03 2:33

Yeah, that version of me thought life was about winning, being the best, getting ahead. I had plans for my life. But I never stopped to ask. What if God had plans too?

SPEAKER_02 2:44

Hmm. I get that. There's this strange tension between who you were and who you're becoming. And look, I'm not telling you to stop following Jesus. That part I actually respect. But following Jesus doesn't mean copy-pasting someone else's life. Hanaya wants to move to a new country, learn the language, live among people, build something there, and talk about Jesus. That's her calling. But did God tell you to do the same thing?

SPEAKER_03 3:12

Well, uh, not specifically.

SPEAKER_02 3:14

Exactly. You keep talking about calling. I don't totally understand that yet. But if God has a purpose for people, shouldn't yours come from Him directly? Not through someone else. What if you're meant to fly higher than that? Look, you're smart, Hiro though. You could be incredibly successful, influential, even rich. God didn't give you a brilliant mind. Just so you could throw away every opportunity in front of you. You could lead companies, build things, influence thousands of people. You could create jobs, fund schools, change whole communities, even support missions and Christian projects. Christians don't have to live small lives. Some of the biggest things God has ever done probably happened through people with influence. So why assume the only meaningful life is the hard missionary one? Imagine the good you could do with real influence and resources. So why throw away everything you've worked for? I just hate seeing you talk like none of that matters anymore.

SPEAKER_01 4:22

Why settle for less than what you're capable of? You worked too hard for it. I've always admired that about you. The way you aim high. I just don't want to see you give that up.

SPEAKER_03 4:33

For most of my life I was running. But really, I was just running away from failure. Now I think I'm finally running towards something. I just don't know where it ends yet. Following Jesus isn't about shrinking your life, it's more like everything gets rearranged. Your priorities change. What used to come first doesn't anymore. Jesus said something that stuck with me. Seek first the kingdom of God. Not second. Not after everything else. First. And if that's true, then career, success, even relationships, they all have to come after that.

SPEAKER_02 5:07

Okay, but you're moving too fast. Right now, your whole emotional orbit is Hanaya. You're planning to follow her across continents. Most girls would find that romantic. But I'm worried about you. Sometimes people run so fast towards someone else's dream, they forget to discover who they are. So here's my advice: step back from Hanaya for a while. Give yourself space.

SPEAKER_03 5:34

That's easier said than done. I know it sounds crazy. Following Hanaya across the world. Maybe it is. But when she talks about calling, about choices and eternal rewards, I don't know. It just feels real. When I started following Jesus, something changed. Before that, I always felt like I had to prove I was worth something. Like if I stopped achieving for five minutes, I'd disappear. But now that pressure just stopped. I feel like I'm already loved, already valued, and my life has become part of something bigger than just me. Hanaya didn't make that happen. God did. She just pointed me toward him, and honestly, she keeps telling me the same thing. Not to follow her. That my calling has to come from God, not from her.

SPEAKER_02 6:23

Oh, she said that?

SPEAKER_03 6:25

Yeah, and the truth is, I still don't know. I don't know where God will lead me, maybe somewhere completely different. I want to follow God's calling. But right now, I can't stop chasing Hanaya either.

SPEAKER_02 6:36

Then be honest about that. Don't wrap it in big words like calling and eternal stuff. Right now you're just a guy in love with a girl, and that's okay. Just don't pretend it's something else. Look, Hanaya seems like a really sweet girl. But when it comes to love, she's not thinking about you. She's thinking about her mission. You're not her priority. And maybe that's not even wrong. Honestly, if I were you, I'd probably admire her too. But admiration isn't the same thing as love. You shouldn't chase someone who isn't looking back. Maybe she just likes the attention. I didn't even realize she liked you. If I had, I wouldn't have helped her. With those cute snaps that went viral at school. That softened your heart again. Maybe you should have stayed mad at her a little longer. Don't go running after people who won't still be there later. Don't chase the fakers.

SPEAKER_03 7:28

Hanaya isn't perfect. She can be stubborn when she sets her mind on something, but she's not fake.

SPEAKER_02 7:33

If she can't commit, then yeah, she is. I leave for two years. And when I come back, you've turned into this confused romantic philosopher. Where's the hyper-focused Hirotho? Or are you just lonely?

SPEAKER_03 7:46

Maybe.

SPEAKER_02 7:47

A little, but it's not about You remember what I said earlier? About chasing the wrong girl? I wasn't joking. Maybe the girl you should be chasing has been standing right in front of you your whole life. I wish you'd notice.

SPEAKER_03 8:01

Wait, what?

SPEAKER_02 8:01

I'm serious. You really think I'd just sit back and watch you ruin your life? You know me. You've known me since we were five. I'm steady. I'm not going anywhere. Hanaya might disappear to the other side of the world chasing her mission. But me? I'll still be here. I'll build a life. And you'd actually be part of it. To be honest, I came back because I missed you.

SPEAKER_03 8:26

Yona.

SPEAKER_02 8:27

Listen, I've already been burned once. When my boyfriend cheated on me in Seoul, everyone told me to just move on. But the worst part wasn't the cheating. It was realizing I couldn't trust anyone anymore. Except you. Love isn't perfect, but I stayed loyal. I've got the scars to prove it. I don't run away. And you wouldn't be alone. I'd stay. No matter what.

SPEAKER_03 8:54

Wait, you're serious, Yona? I didn't uh I mean, I had no idea.

SPEAKER_02 8:58

That's because you're unbelievably oblivious. Do you know how many hints I dropped growing up? You either ignored them, or your brain was too busy solving math equations.

SPEAKER_03 9:07

Probably the second one, but listen, Yona.

SPEAKER_02 9:09

Do you remember the middle school science fair?

SPEAKER_03 9:11

Uh yeah, what about it?

SPEAKER_02 9:13

You stayed up all night helping me finish my project.

SPEAKER_03 9:16

Yeah, it took a lot of time to fix it.

SPEAKER_02 9:17

But I'd actually finished it a week ago. I just changed a few things on purpose so I could redo it with your help. I just wanted an excuse to spend the night working with you.

SPEAKER_03 9:27

What?

SPEAKER_02 9:27

You never figured that out. Answer me one question. If Hanaya left tomorrow, without telling you, would you still choose her?

SPEAKER_03 9:36

Uh I uh Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 9:39

That's what I thought. You don't love her future, you love her. I'm not letting you make life decisions based on a crush. If Hanaya is really the girl God wants you to be with, then you should go after her, even if that means flying across the world. I won't stop you. But while you're figuring things out, I'm not giving up so easily. Life is about taking chances. So take a chance. Take a chance with me. Make a move.

SPEAKER_03 10:07

Wait, what?

SPEAKER_02 10:08

I just confessed my feelings, genius. You think I'm going to disappear after one conversation? So here's the deal. You follow Jesus, you pray, you figure out your future. But remember, sometimes God writes the best stories with people who've been in your life all along.

SPEAKER_03 10:26

Uh, are you saying you might be part of my story?

SPEAKER_02 10:28

I'm saying you'd be pretty lucky if I was. I waited a long time for you to notice me, you know.