How Do I Navigate Discontentment at Work?

For most Americans, our work environment has changed radically over the past year and a half. While some workers have remained largely unaffected or have even benefited from the shift to remote work, the pandemic has had ripple effects that have altered many people’s jobs in ways that have left them feeling tired and discontent. 

The Great Resignation, as economists are calling it, points to an important reality. This pandemic has brought many Americans (and others abroad) to a crossroads and caused them to reevaluate their sense of calling. Whether people have awoken to a desire for new work, or have become burnt out on the work they previously enjoyed, the pandemic has caused people to rethink their working lives.

thorns and thistles

One of the significant questions at the heart of this re-evaluation seems to be: what do I do if I’m not happy in my job? How do I know whether my feelings of discontent are a signal to leave my job, or whether I should stay put? Christians especially may be asking: what does Scripture say about work and discontentment?

“One of the significant questions at the heart of this re-evaluation seems to be: what do I do if I’m not happy in my job?”

From the beginning, we see that God created work as a good and foundational part of what it means to be human. As we see God working in creation, and then Adam and Eve tending to the Garden of Eden, it is important to see that work came before the fall (Genesis 1-3). Work was a part of paradise.

However, based on what God’s word says about the thorns and thistles that are inherent to all our workplaces because of humankind’s sin in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:16-19), we know that work will always be unnecessarily difficult. A gap will always exist between our hopes and realities at work. We will, to some degree, never be fully satisfied with our work in the world. 

the sources of our discontent

For readers who are at that crossroads and are considering what your present discontentment means for your future career, it is important to consider what is beneath these feelings of unfulfillment at work before making a quick decision.

Here are some questions that might help you reflect on what is at the root of your discontent:

• Do I feel that my job is secure?

• Are my expectations of my experience at work biblically-grounded or out-sized?

• Am I feeling overworked and in need of renewing the practice of Sabbath?

• Do I feel that I am getting paid what I need to survive and what my work is worth?

• Do I feel like a valued member of my team?

• Is my job helping me to achieve the goals I set for myself?

• Does my job feel integrated with the person I am and want to become?

• Do I feel that the contributions I make every day are something God wants me to do?

While these are just starting questions, I encourage you to reflect on the sources of your discontent.

ways we can respond

Both Old Testament and New Testament believers had to deal with working faithfully in a broken world. You aren’t alone in living in this tension. So, how does Scripture invite us to respond?

• We can ask God for wisdom, expecting Him to provide it as needed

• We can pour out our hearts to God, lament our situation, and yearn for better days

• We can look for other ways to change our work environment

• We can pray for strength to endure the difficult challenges we face

• We can begin looking and trusting God to lead us to find a new job elsewhere, if needed

With respect to the second bullet above, I was reminded recently of how the Psalms display the full range of human emotion, from the highs of praising God for His majesty to the depths of despair.

“Both Old Testament and New Testament believers had to deal with working faithfully in a broken world. You aren’t alone in living in this tension.”

David, as he considers his own dismal circumstances, cries out, “My soul is in anguish.  How long, O Lord, how long?  Turn, O Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love” (Ps. 6:3-4).

Later, knowing that God has indeed been gracious to him and that He has rescued and delivered him in the past, David asks the same big question regarding God’s timing, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?  How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” (Ps. 13:1-2).

David’s honest plea for God’s deliverance reaches new heights as he painfully exclaims, “How long, Lord God Almighty, will your anger smolder against the prayers of your people?” (Ps. 80:4).

If you could express to God your own deep feelings of discontentment, frustration, and need of His deliverance, what would it look like? I invite you to actually write it out as an exercise of faith.

One of the main purposes that these Psalms of lament were included in this book is for us to know that God gives us permission to share our deepest hurts and disappointments with Him. Although we are called to work faithfully as unto the Lord, we are not asked to ignore our struggles or avoid dealing with them. We do not have to deny our feelings or try to just push through them. Instead, God invites us to pay attention to our longings and honestly cry out to Him.

the spiritual journey of discernment

As we offer our praises and laments about work side by side to God, how can we think well about discerning our next steps? Certainly, looking for a job will be a spiritual journey for the Christian. (I invite you to read an article I wrote recently on discerning God’s will.)

I believe that God is interested in leading us even more than we hope He will. I believe that when we maintain our relationship with God in the way in which the Bible describes it, walking with God the Father, abiding in Christ, and walking in the Spirit, we will be able to be receptive to God’s guidance.

During these turbulent circumstances, God may be preparing you to begin another chapter in your life.  If you are forced to or decide to find new employment, God will be with you. If you decide to stay where you are, He is still with you. He will give you wisdom to make the best decision in His time.

On the one hand, with respect to looking for new jobs, Douglas Schuurman, in his book, Vocation: Discerning our Callings in Life counsels, “Adversity often becomes a spur for creative change and discovery of new places where God is calling us to serve.” On the other hand, Schuurman wisely points out, “Restless discontent with one’s present sphere, then, may not be a valid indicator of God’s call to a new sphere. It may indicate the need for renewed prayer and obedience within the existing sphere.”

“Ultimately, we need to remember that the gospel of Jesus Christ points to a day when He returns, and all things will be made new. ”

While discontentment at work may be an indicator that the wisest decision is to leave, is it not an automatic indicator that that is right. It is not always black-or-white. Deciding requires faithful prayer and discernment, both between you and God and in community. Seek out the wisdom of their family members, local church, and trusted peers. Share with them your concerns and openly invite feedback.

Whatever your current circumstances are in your job, I urge you to proceed deliberately by seeking God’s wisdom for your work. God will provide; God will lead; God will prepare the way for you to be where He needs you to be.

an eternal perspective

Although what we do on this earth is extremely significant and can be a true blessing when we find work that is a good fit, keeping an eternal perspective keeps our work in perspective. Ultimately, we need to remember that the gospel of Jesus Christ points to a day when He returns, and all things will be made new. The very real struggles that we had in these temporary bodies, even those we had at work for a majority of our waking hours, will eventually be replaced with a world free of the thorns and thistles that negatively impact every aspect of our work environment. 

Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

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Biblical Wisdom for the Great Resignation

Editor’s Note: We are honored to have Dr. Chip Roper, President and Founder of VOCA Center, as a guest writer for today’s blog.

Everybody seems to be quitting their job or thinking about it. If you are content where you are, it can feel like you’re missing something. You are not imagining this. Every month, 3 to 4 million people are quitting their jobs. It’s called the “Great Resignation.” All the pent up fear of the early pandemic has given way to the quest for greener pastures.

In this piece, we will explore the “why” behind the Great Resignation and explore God’s wisdom for the dilemma it presents.

the three "whys” behind the 'great resignation’

There are three primary factors driving the Great Resignation.

factor #1: new OPPORTUNITIES are releasing pent up demand for change

As Yasmin Tayag points out in Fortune, we should not be surprised that record numbers of people are changing their jobs. As professional career coaches, our team at VOCA Center is aware that at any given time, 50% of workers would change jobs if given the opportunity. Like many other trends in Western society, the pandemic has accelerated or intensified forces that were already in motion. 

““I wanted to leave and now I can.” That’s the assumption of many during the Great Resignation.”

As soon as the economy started to recover by the end of June 2020—as soon as people realized, “I’m not losing my job and can start thinking about the future”—resignations picked up. Now, we find there are regularly more job openings than qualified workers. It’s a sellers market for workers. “I wanted to leave and now I can.” That’s the assumption of many during the Great Resignation.

factor #2: changing jobs is a common reaction to shock

In the management literature about why employees quit, a surprising trend emerges. “Shocks” have greater predictive power in identifying likely exits than any other single factor. In a 2005 study on employee turnover, three researchers wrote:

Examples of shocks include unsolicited job offers, changes in marital status, transfers or mergers. A shock to the system is a distinguishable event that jars an employee toward deliberate judgements about his/her job and may lead the employee to voluntarily quit. A shock is an event that generates information or provides meaning about a person's job and then is interpreted and integrated into the person's system of beliefs and images. As such it is sufficiently jarring that it cannot be ignored.

In this case, the pandemic has created multiple shocks for everyone all at once. Many shifted to remote work, to new safety procedures for in-person work, to new ways of meeting and connecting. All of us have observed how well our bosses and organizations dealt with acute crises. Many of us have been forced to ask: Is the way I’m working sustainable?

factor #3: shifts in the factors that keep us in a job

There are six factors researchers have identified that keep us in a job. Three have to do with the job itself, and three have to do with the community in which we live in order to do the job.

The pandemic has shifted these six factors in many cases. Links and fit may have increased or declined, depending on whether one thrives in work from home. With the war for talent heating up, the costs of leaving a job are often going down. 

On the community side, there is much change. Suburbs and vacation locations boomed while cities emptied. Many people spent much more time with their families.  Do we want to go back to the old normal or build a new one?

These three factors—the release of pent up demand, the fall out from the pandemic shock, and the shifts COVID-19 has created in the forces that keep us in a job—mean many of us feel determined to find work that better matches our ambitions and lifestyles. What are Christ followers to make of this vocational upheaval?

god’s wisdom for the great resignation

Most of us drift towards two reactions in times of vocational upheaval. Option one is to go along with the crowd, brush up on our résumé and start looking for other jobs. The other tendency is to fall into despair because the Great Resignation is yet another life upheaval on the heels of the pandemic.

Friends are moving away, colleagues are leaving, work and life are constantly changing. It’s exhausting and we can be discouraged by the fact that life will not be returning to normal any time soon, despite our collective weariness.

How does God meet us in this tension?

God provides divine insight for our times in three forms:

1) Optimism grounded in His sovereignty,

2) Leadership beyond the wind and tide of the present,

3) A call to wisdom rather than fear or rash action.

sovereignty-driven optimism

The Scriptures introduce us to a God who is in control. Throughout Scripture, we see that God’s plan moved forward through times of upheaval. 

“In the U.S. we tend to equate staying and stability with blessing and success. But God can work through uncertainty and disruption just as well. ”

Think of Jacob and his family going to Egypt, saved from the immediate famine and grown into a mighty people. Think of the saints chased out of Jerusalem (Acts 8)—it led to the advance of the Gospel all over the region. Think of Priscilla and Aquila driven from Rome by an imperial edict—positioning them to be critical partners with Paul in the spread of the Kingdom message.

In the U.S. we tend to equate staying and stability with blessing and success. But God can work through uncertainty and disruption just as well. We can exhale and feel genuine optimism that His purposes for our world, society, and selves will be fulfilled even in the face of intense change.

Isaiah 46:9-10 speaks to the sovereignty of God:

I am God, and there is none like me,

declaring the end from the beginning'

and from ancient times things not yet done,

saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,

and I will accomplish all my purpose.’

leadership beyond present circumstances

Jesus offers us much more than a role model or even a ticket to heaven. He offers us leadership in our lives now.  

Paul writes to the church at Rome: For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Romans 14:7-8).

“You are not an isolated wanderer trying to figure it out on your own, but a servant of the loving powerful King, who will guide your steps if you let Him.”

Too much of our deliberations about work are self-referential. “What you want to do” is important, but it is not the most important factor. In the math of the Apostles, we belong to Jesus because He bought us with a price. This invites us to shift our thinking from “What should I do?” to “What does my trustworthy leader want me to do?” 

Whether God’s calling for you is stay, leave, or explore, it is His job to lead. Exhale.  Relax. You are not an isolated wanderer trying to figure it out on your own, but a servant of the loving powerful King, who will guide your steps if you let Him.

wisdom for our discernment

Knowing what you should do during the Great Resignation is not a moral, ethical, or theological question per se. It is a wisdom question, and wisdom is practical. Wisdom asks, “Based on what I know of God's character and plans for the world, what is the best course of action for me to pursue?”

During the Great Resignation, this boils down to the following alternatives: Is it wisest to avoid danger by leaving, or is the wiser choice to reap the fruit of diligence and stay?

When Staying is Dangerous

As Proverbs 27:12 states, “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” 

Maybe it is dangerous to stay in your current role and your current organization. There are many reasons this could be—perhaps the organization is in decline because of industry shifts or poor leadership. Maybe you have maxed out what you can contribute there. Perhaps the demands of this company/industry run contrary to your clarified values and faith commitments. 

The fact that you can leave is a chance to gain your freedom (See 1 Corinthians 7:21). You’ve done your homework. You have validated your assumptions. You have confirmed from real evidence that you can make a better contribution elsewhere. If that's the case, wisdom says it's dangerous to stay. But this of course is not always the case!

When Diligence is the Wise Choice

Sometimes our haste to get ahead and find something better is the real block to landing in a place where we can make our best contribution. With all the buzz about changing jobs, we could miss God’s wisest path for us. 

As Proverbs 21:5 tells us, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.” 

Think of Daniel’s diligence in his Prime Minister role even when his boss lost his mind and took a seven year sabbatical (See Daniel 4). Daniel ran the kingdom and he was diligent when the whole enterprise was falling apart.

Similarly, several of my friends were able to grow as leaders and advance in their influence precisely because they were the people who stayed and rebuilt the ruins after others left. Godly wisdom teaches us that running for the exit too quickly can at times be foolish.

resting in god’s ownership

If you want to maintain your sanity and focus during The Great Resignation, there is a truth that can anchor you and provide a place to rest. It is the idea that you and I are ultimately God’s servants, which means that we are not ultimately responsible for forging our paths; we are just responsible for listening to God’s leading. 

Listen to what Paul wrote to people he called “bondservants.” These were women and men who, through indebtedness, became enslaved to another to pay off their debts. This is what he says: 

Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men (1 Cor. 7:21-23).

Apart from understanding God’s sovereignty, our ability to choose can feel overwhelming when the options are plenty. He who has bought you with a price will not abandon you now.

It is God who directs our steps (Proverbs 16:9). It is God who has prepared good works in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). When the road ahead seems dark, it is God’s Word that lights our path (Psalm 119:105). We do not travel these dimly lit roads of vocational uncertainty by ourselves.

Whether you are firmly planted where you are or actively looking for work, God cares intimately about your career. Ultimately, God has a plan for your career. Seek Him and embrace His wisdom, and you will have a great strategy to navigate the Great Resignation.

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Looking for further help on deciding whether to stay in your current role or look elsewhere? Download “Should I Quit My Job?”, a free guide courtesy of the VOCA Center.

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4 Mistakes Christians Make Discerning Calling (And How to Avoid Them)

“I just want to know what to do with my life.”

A common refrain for young and old Christians alike, this sentiment gets at a deeper, existential question: “How do I know I’m not wasting my life?”

This desire to glorify God, make a difference through our daily work, and do something that feels connected to who we are is good and God-given, but it can also lead us into a space of anxiety and discouragement when we aren’t sure of our calling. 

What are some mistakes that Christians may be susceptible to make when discerning their professional calling? Below are four suggestions with ideas for how to avoid making each of them.

mistake #1: waiting for a clear and obvious sign from god

Many of us want to rightly acknowledge God’s provision and plan for our lives. Indeed, the Psalmist writes that while, “The heart of man plans his way, the Lord establishes his steps.” (Proverbs 3:5-6). However, many of us may take that verse to mean that we cannot make any plans of our own before the Lord makes it clear which way to walk.

While we are certainly to ask God to help us be obedient to where He is leading, a lack of a clear “sign” from God does not automatically mean we keep waiting for one. A consistent pattern in Scripture is that God calls faithful men and women to follow Him without offering all the details.

• How to avoid it: Rather than being subdued into decision paralysis and passivity, pray that the Lord would guide your steps, that you would walk in His will, and in discerning your vocational path within the context of community, move forward and pursue what you feel led to. God’s will is expansive enough to grant you the freedom of agency, which we can rightly enjoy when we place ourselves under the submission of God’s ways and kingdom.

mistake #2: assuming discernment is a private matter

While we like to think we know ourselves best, we forget that the wisdom of our community — both peers and elders — is an essential gift that we often fail to draw on. As much as we’d like to be, we are not the best objective analyzers of our own gifts, skills, and limitations. Yet, recent research from Barna shows that 56% of Christians believe understanding one’s calling is primarily a solo journey.

• How to avoid it: We need to heed the trusted voices of others affirming or questioning the paths we’re considering. Sit down with 5-10 trusted peers and elders who have preferably known you for some time. Tell them about the choices you’re considering and the values you have for your work. Ask them to honestly weigh in. Listen. Scripture testifies to the reality that God often calls us through the voices of others. When we forgo relying on our community and networks for support, we rob them of the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ to us in our process of discernment.

mistake #3: considering our choices as permanent

“When we forgo relying on our community and networks for support, we rob them of the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ to us in our process of discernment.”

For many of us, choosing a career feels terrifying because we have no idea how to project our hopes, desires, and goals for our work ten or forty years into the future. In many ways, we feel the weight of our “yes” because it feels like a “no” to every other option for the rest of our lives. As Dr. Stephanie Schackleford writes, “[Younger generations] are very afraid that if they choose this major or take this job, it’s going to set them on a trajectory that’s going to determine the rest of their life.”

However, consider that the average American will hold 12 different jobs in their lifetime. What if our “yes” is a commitment to the next step in our careers, rather than deciding the entirety of our futures? What if we embraced that, instead of boxing ourselves into one career forever, we were simply faithfully moving where God is leading us at this moment?

• How to avoid it: Remember that when making a career choice, you aren’t making a choice that is binding forever. Your choices matter, and indeed many workers do remain in one career for their professional lives, but the work assignment God has for you today could be drastically different than the one He has for you ten years from now. Without that vision into the future, it can often feel stifling to choose one path. As Shackleford emphasizes, “Calling is not a static concept. We’re always growing and changing, and our calling is always morphing as we grow.

mistake #4: looking for the one right or perfect job

“With so many options, how do I know I’m taking the right job God wants for me? If I take the wrong position, will I miss God’s plan for my life?”

.This view of God’s will is like a balance beam that we’re teetering off of at all times: make one wrong move and we’re on the mat. This narrow view of God’s will can create anxiety in Christians who fear making the “wrong” decision. Certainly, there are ways we can actively disobey God’s will for our lives, and that includes our work. What we’re talking about here, though, is considering one career path or job as the only obedient option and considering the rest as inherently wrong.

“The problem isn’t our desire to be satisfied with our work, but rather our belief that in order to be happy, we have to find the one job that will satisfy us...”

Another similar trap that we can fall into is believing there is a perfect job out there for us that will satisfy all of our heart’s desires for our work. To be clear, our longing for meaningful work is good: according to Barna, Christians who find purpose and meaning in their work are more than twice as likely to say they are “very satisfied” with their life.

The problem isn’t our desire to be satisfied with our work, but rather our belief that in order to be happy, we have to find the one job that will satisfy us—something that 75% of Christians believe is out there waiting for us to discover, according to Barna. As Tim Keller explains, whatever is on the other side of, “I could be happy if I just had ______” is an idol for us to lay down at the cross.

• How to avoid it: Faithful Christians seeking God’s will for their work need to be reminded that their primary calling is to love God with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength (Luke 10:27), and out of that worship of God, we can exercise our own God-given agency in choosing how that love of God will be expressed in our professional lives. This agency is not in competition with God’s, but rather in partnership with it as we submit to His ways and acknowledge His sovereignty in our lives.

  As Christians, we also must be careful not to view the “perfect job” as the silver bullet to the good life. The counter-cultural message of the kingdom of God is that true, ultimate joy is not found in achievement, but in loving relationship with God. However as Barnabas Piper suggests, “Most of us quietly believe that work can support the weight of our happiness.”

  When we expect too much from our work, we’re bound to experience disappointment. As Piper concludes, “Work—like many other things in life—is a means of finding happiness. It’s designed by God and is a good thing. It’s a good hook for the right things, but too weak to hold our hopes for total happiness.” Work shouldn’t make us miserable. It also can’t fulfill us.

getting to the heart of our questions

“Work shouldn’t make us miserable. It also can’t fulfill us.”

In an increasingly complex economy rattled by the ramifications of COVID-19, many Christians may be looking for work or considering a career change. Perhaps the most honest question we can ask ourselves at this time is, “Do I really believe God is with me and for me in this process?”

If we are brave enough to ask the question and still enough to listen for an answer, Scripture testifies to a God that is calling back to us with the same answer He gave Moses, overwhelmed at the calling laid out for him: “I will be with you” (Exodus 3:11).

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Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Editor’s Note: This article was written by Dr. Chip Roper from the VOCA Center and was originally published here.

There’s always angst about career choice floating in the ether. Over half of us workers would change jobs if we could and 50% of Millennials think they chose the wrong career.

So how do you know if it is time to go?  

Short answer: 1) Understand your moment and 2) Respond accordingly. 

When we survey biblical characters, we see that most of them wrestled with dilemmas related to vocational direction. Consider their stories below, identify your moment, and act accordingly.

the nehemiah moment: a clear ‘no’

Nehemiah is a favorite personage for those of us who crave strong biblical models of leadership. At one point in his quest to restore the fortunes and functioning of God’s people, Nehemiah was focused on rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. His enemies were attempting to slow him down. They sent messages to him while he was working up on the wall. They were asking for a meeting.  Nehemiah’s answer: “I am doing a great work, I cannot come down.” 

If you are in a Nehemiah moment you have clarity regarding what you’re doing now – you know it's important, you know it is your assignment for the present season. You are solidly focused on getting a project done, learning a new skill, winning a certain client, serving a client, hitting a revenue target, or training a successor. In a Nehemiah moment, you say “no” to all other offers and keep your focus on that task at hand.

paul and asia - keep knocking (looking for yes)

When we join the Apostle Paul in Acts 16, he wants to go to the Roman province of Asia but each time he is met with a closed door. Finally, he has a dream in which a man from a certain region begs him to come to Greece. Paul purchases passage and heads off to Macedonia.  

If you’re in a Paul and Asia moment, you have to keep pressing for your next. You may not leave your job while looking for the next, but the key is not to give up. Keep looking until the door is opened.

ruth - advance where you are

Ruth found herself in a starting over moment. Her mother-in-law, Naomi, though weighed down with her own issues, provided good counsel. She helped Ruth find a way forward in her present circumstances. She directed Ruth to harvest in the fields owned by Boaz. Naomi coached her to find her way into Boaz’s good graces. In a Ruth moment, you don’t want to leave. Instead, you make the most of the opportunities hiding in your current situation.

david - on the run

David had a fairly awful career journey. He was a nobody. Then he was the favored musician in the court of King Saul. He was a hero for killing Goliath. Then he was the object of the King’s jealous hatred. So what does he do? He runs for his life. He stays away from Saul (who was trying to kill him) and he focuses on two things: 1) surviving, and 2) maintaining his integrity.  

If you’re in a David moment, maybe you need to leave fast. Or maybe you need to avoid certain people and just keep your head down and survive. Like all the other scenarios, it is just a moment! It doesn’t last forever. After David’s season on the run, he became king.

esther - lay it on the line

Esther was the queen. However, she had no power of her own and could only speak to the king when summoned. Her uncle, Mordecai, learns of a plot against the Jews and begs Esther to speak to the king and save her people. Esther risks her life by going to the king unannounced.

An Esther Moment is where we lay it on the line and risk our future. We may need to take the risk to put forth an idea, offer constructive criticism, or stand up for someone on our team who has been treated unfairly. Instead of just leaving or hiding, we take a risky stand. That is the play when you’re in an Esther moment.

joseph - the right opportunity

Joseph’s life unraveled over and over.  He goes from favored son to Egyptian slave, from favored servant to an Egyptian jail. While he was a precocious young man, he didn’t deserve any of the calamity that came his way. Then one day he was summoned to Pharoah, invited to interpret a dream, and promoted to second in command of the entire kingdom. Joseph was a man of real integrity and a man with a plan to solve Pharaoh's problem.  

When we are offered an opportunity that we can confirm is a step into better use of our gifts and a clear opportunity to have an impact – especially when we’ve been stuck in a job or career that has not afforded those possibilities – the answer is likely yes.

wisdom situation - discerning by values

Deciding whether or not to leave your job and search for something new is a Wisdom Situation. That means the best path is not obvious and you must make a judgment call based on what you know, what you value, and what God has called you to (in terms of purpose and values).

Use the above examples to gain clarity regarding what kind of moment you’re in as you consider changing jobs.

Based on your moment, should you stay or should you go?

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Looking for more resources for career discernment or job searching? Check out NIFW’s Career Navigator program, in partnership with Dr. Roper and the VOCA Center.

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Why Networking is More Biblical Than You Think

What images and feelings come to mind when you hear the word “networking?”

Images: I picture an awkward gathering of awkward people fumbling over their paper plates, plastic cups, and elevator pitches as they try desperately to make a connection that will lead to a sale.

Feelings: discomfort, frustration, and the sinking conviction that I’m wasting my time. 

After 32 years, I am still not entirely comfortable when I enter a crowded room where I don’t know most of the people. A significant percentage of the time I wonder: “Is this worth my time?”

Underneath it all is a deeper question: if my work is really an expression of God’s call on my life, am I still required to engage in these anxious attempts to make new contacts? If God is guiding and blessing me, do I need to strive so intently in the land of the awkward? Won’t he just “open doors” and make it grow if I’m being faithful to him? Is all this effort the opposite of having faith? 

In this piece, I will draw on the story of Abraham to highlight a Biblical approach to networking. For those of you who are allergic to the practice, we will demystify it by showing its Scriptural roots. For those of you who enjoy networking, you will discover how you can engage in it redemptively.

genesis 24 as a template for modern networking

In Genesis 24, we read the story of Abraham securing a wife for his son Isaac. Abraham has been through all sorts of trials and kept believing in the promises of God. He proved he wouldn’t hold anything back from God (Gen. 22). God has blessed him with his promised son, peace on all sides, and material abundance. Now it’s time to set up his son for success. He needs to find Isaac a good wife.

Abraham has three challenges:

1. He does not want Isaac to marry a local woman - they did not share his values or faith.

2. He is too old to travel to the country where a suitable bride might be found.

3. He did not want Isaac to leave the land. God has given them this land and Abraham seemed to fear that if Isaac returned to the country of his extended family, he might not return.

part 1: the commission

“A danger for networkers is the scarcity mindset; we think we are asking people for a favor instead of offering a mutually beneficial relationship.”

So what does Abraham do? He commissions his head servant on perhaps the first “networking mission” in recorded history. The servant will go to the land of Abraham’s countrymen, and he will bring gifts. He will look for God to lead him to the right family and bride. He will make an offer to the bride and her family. In the end, it will be the woman’s choice - the servant’s only responsibility is to go to the right people and make a clear offer.

What do we learn about networking from the onset of this story?

First, we see that networking involves knowing who you need to know. Abraham knew where his servant needed to go to meet a suitable bride for his son. It wasn’t a random event; it wasn’t even about convenience. It may have taken his servant 30 days to arrive in the land of Abraham’s relatives. Importantly, Abraham knew who he needed to know. He knew what circle of people to pursue. 

Some of us may be frustrated in our networking because we have just tried to show up at random gatherings. Early on in career transition or business building process, random events can help us get our conversational muscles in shape. But over time, we need to focus our efforts. Who do we need to meet to accomplish what it is we are called to accomplish? 

“ Make prayer a habitual part of your networking.”

The second thing we see here is that successful networking is about delivering the offer (the offer of a follow-up conversation, of a product offer, of an invitation of some sort). It is not about the response. Even in the patriarchal ancient Near East, it was the woman’s choice to come or not. We don’t want to force people into doing business with us. We are looking for the willing.

part 2: the prayer

With his commission from Abraham and an oath to make good on fulfilling all his master’s expectations, Abraham’s servant sets on his way. Finally, after weeks of travel with camels and horses and gifts, he arrives in the country to which he was directed. Upon arrival, he says the following prayer:

“O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this, I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.” (Genesis 24:12-14).

What can we learn from this passage?

First, make prayer a habitual part of your networking. How often do you pray before making a new contact? Abraham’s servant prayed for three things: 1) Success, 2) God’s faithful love to be obvious, and 3) Confirmation that he has met the right person for Isaac. What might it look like for you to do that?

In order to pray this way, it requires something else, a second takeaway from this part of the story.

Be very clear on what you’re seeking. In order to pray this way, we have to know what we are seeking. This means taking the time to think through the explicit criteria we use to determine if we’ve found what we are seeking. Sometimes in a coaching session, people will say, “I just want to know that I am doing the job that God wants me to do!” I ask, “How will you know it when you find it?” 

“Approached biblically, networking is a divinely constructed way to discover new neighbors to love.”

The servant’s mission was pretty clear: find a suitable bride for his master’s son. What are you looking for? A job opportunity, industry intel, a potential client? Each is defined a bit differently. Ask yourself, “What is my goal?” “How will I recognize the right fit?” And then pray for God’s hand to be over your interaction.

part 3: the pitch

As soon as the servant has finished uttering his prayer, a woman named Rebecca comes to the well where he was resting. He makes his pitch and she answers as he hoped. He offers her gifts and Rebecca accepts them. She then takes him to meet the family. He offers them gifts and repeats the whole story. Afterwards, there is a grand celebration, and before long Rebecca is on her way back to Canaan to become Isaac’s bride.

From the conclusion of the story, we can draw two final networking principles.

Generosity: The servant leads with gifts and requests, rather than his needs and demands. He is generous. A danger for networkers is the scarcity mindset; we think we are asking people for a favor instead of offering a mutually beneficial relationship. We get sucked into a needy mindset (I need a sale, I need a job), instead of a value-add mindset (I have God-given talents and capacities that enrich people and organizations). Abraham’s servant shows us to lead with giving and confidence. 

Tell the Story: The narrative was essential for Rebecca and her family to understand who was proposing. This was an exciting, miracle-like story, but it only made sense with the details. What’s your story? What are your skills? What have you learned? How do you aspire to have an impact? How can you quickly and positively help people understand who you are and why you are talking to them? 

“Instead of a slimy exercise of selfishness or transactional goals, adopting a biblical view of networking connects us to God and our neighbors in new ways of trust and service.”

Finding a bride for Isaac is one of my favorite examples of networking in the Bible. But it is far from the only one. In Scripture, we see Jesus walking along the shore to call fisherman, visiting the tax collectors booth to reach Matthew, and stopping by the well in Samaria to convince a whole village that he is the Messiah.

We see Paul going to the Synagogue in Berea, to the place of prayer in Philippi, and the Areopagus in Athens. Over and over again in the Bible, we see followers of Christ going to the place where they will find the people they need to know, committing the outcome to God, and graciously and generously holding out an offer. Perhaps we can call this the Biblical framework for networking.

redemptive networking

In their book Designing Your Life, authors Bill Burnett and Dave Evans put it succinctly: “Dysfunctional belief: networking is just hustling people—it’s slimy. Reframe: networking is just asking for directions.”

Instead of a slimy exercise of selfishness or transactional goals, adopting a biblical view of networking connects us to God and our neighbors in new ways of trust and service. As we exercise our own agency, we ultimately look to God to open the doors and show us His favor. We are actively dependent on Him in the process. But it’s not just the vertical that’s important. 

Networking can be redeemed when we look at it as a way to meet and serve others in our sphere. Part of the adventure of networking is asking “In what ways might God want me to share wisdom, comfort, or resources with this person?” Approached biblically, networking is a divinely constructed way to discover new neighbors to love. 

So the next time you’re putting on a name tag at a networking event, reciting an elevator pitch, or asking for an informational interview over Zoom, remember: God delights in blessing His people through the generosity of others.

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Looking for more resources for career discernment or job searching? Check out NIFW’s Career Navigator program, in partnership with Dr. Roper and the VOCA Center.

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How to Discern God's Will for Your Work

For people across the world, 2020 was a year fraught with difficulty. The economic effects of the pandemic were drastic. Millions of people lost their jobs as businesses were shut down, while other workers labored long hours to meet the demands placed upon them. Parents with children were forced to make difficult decisions about how to best balance their work and family responsibilities. Many lost medical benefits as well as their source of income.

As a result of all this rapid and unexpected turbulence, many had to reevaluate their employment. Where does a Christian turn when he or she is forced to quickly find a new job or another line of work? How can we discern our calling and figure out God’s will for our lives in times like these?

You may be asking yourself, “Am I in the right job?” or “Am I using my God-given talents productively?” These questions are not new ones. However, they might be more urgent now.

Even though these may seem to be the worst of times, I want to emphasize some of the basic and unchanging elements of my biblical and practical theology of work: God leads and provides for His children, we must listen to God’s voice, God is present in every aspect of our work, and God is faithful.

God leads and provides for His children

One of the principles about work is that looking for employment is always going to be a spiritual journey for a Christian. We will grow in faith as we see God lead us and provide for us.

Jesus said, “Seek first the Kingdom of God” (Matt. 6:33). This is always the place to start. Before you open up that job search engine, start with prayer. Ask the Lord of Hosts to guide you in this process.

How does God normally do that? You must spend some time reading the Bible, pray continually for wisdom, and trust Him to lead you. He promises that He will (e.g., Ps. 25:12, 32:8; Prov. 16:9). It does not mean, however, that the road will be straight or without trials and tribulations along the way.

Lee Hardy, in The Fabric of This World: Inquiries into Calling, Career Choice, and the Design of Human Work observes, “Career paths are rarely straight. Typically they are afflicted by detours, unmarked intersections, forced exits, blind alleys, and cul-de-sacs.” Part of your success in finding a new job will be to accept your situation as a God- approved detour. God could be using this pandemic to guide you into a more fulfilling career path.

Listen to God’s voice

Another important tenet in the biblical perspective on work is the idea that we must carefully listen when God speaks to our hearts. 

Ben Witherington, in his book, Work: A Kingdom Perspective on Labor, observes “We do not simply choose our vocations. We are led to them, and this implies that we must be open to hearing from God what He is calling us to do in life. Even when we have been called and gifted to do something, God does not simply leave us to our own devices. Rather, He guides us and steers us in our work.”

How does God guide those He loves in their career journey? Often, He speaks to our hearts in a still, small voice.

I think that many of us are discouraged from following our hearts as Christians. Verses such as Jer. 17:9, which warns, “The heart is deceitful above all things” have been used to dissuade those of us with active imaginations to stop justifying fleshly behaviors that are driven by our wayward emotions.

“Another unchanging truth that is foundational to a biblical view of work is that God is present in our work, from start to finish.”

 However, those of us who have accepted God’s free gift of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ receive a new heart (See Eze. 36:26 and 2 Cor. 5:17.)  It is through this transformed and spiritually-refocused heart that God will guide us. It is true, we should not follow our heart all the time, as it can deceive. But we do need to listen for God to speak to it.

Listening to how God speaks to our hearts first involves examining how God designed us. We do this through some honest and realistic self-assessment. Ask yourself these kinds of questions: What type(s) of work has God equipped you to do well, based on your interests, skills, accomplishments, and experiences? What have others noticed regarding your gifts?  What are you most concerned and passionate about? 

God is present in every aspect of our work

Another unchanging truth that is foundational to a biblical view of work is that God is present in our work, from start to finish.  There is a clear connection from Genesis to Revelation between God’s presence and human work which I call “Immanuel labor.”

Whenever God called His people to do something, either great or small, He always reminded them that He was present to give them the strength, wisdom, and peace to press on and complete the mission. 

During these turbulent circumstances, God may be preparing you to begin another chapter in your life. If you are forced to or decide to find new employment, God will be with you. If you decide to stay where you are, He is still with you. He will give you wisdom to make the best decision in His time.

God is always faithful

The last unchanging principle of a theology of work that is applicable now is closely related to the last one. Based on the attributes of God, His promises that He has made over the centuries to His children, and His standard mode of operation as revealed in the Old and New Testaments, we know without a doubt that God is indeed faithful. This gives us peace, patience, and power during any and every trial.

There is an old hymn I sang for the first time as a young college student, “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” This song is based on verses in Lamentations 3:22-23. It has great applications to a theology of work. As I recently meditated on the chorus to this song, it reminded me of God’s enduring attributes, particularly His commitment to His children.

Great is thy faithfulness, O God our Father

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed thy hand has provided

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me

When we remain in God’s presence every day, not just on Sundays, but on Mondays through Fridays at our workplaces, we do see His mercies. These are some of the most challenging times of our lives. There seems to be no end in sight to this pandemic and its destruction among all of us. And yet, our experience as Christ-followers is that God has always been faithful. There is no end in sight to that great truth, either. Great is His faithfulness!

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Looking for further help in your job search? Learn more about NIFW’s Career Navigator program, featuring ten weeks of virtual job search group training with live coaching.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Russell Gehrlein is the author of "Immanuel Labor - God's Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work." Russ is a former youth pastor and a junior/high school math and science teacher. In 2006, he retired from over 20 years active duty in the US Army in the rank of Master Sergeant. He currently works as a Department of the Army civilian at the US Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear School in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

You can read more of his work on his blog, “Reflections on Theological Topics of Interest”, at www.regehrlein.wordpress.com.

Where is God in Your Job Search?

Genesis 37-50

missing god in transition

Jane is struggling with her career and her faith. She has spent the last two years piecing together part-time work while looking for a full-time job with benefits. The process has been frustrating, with lots of effort and very little to show for it. The waiting is wearing on her faith. She wonders, "Why hasn't God provided a job? Is God even with me in my search?” Like most of us, she believes in the promises that God will care for us, provide for us, and lead us. Yet on her darkest days, she wonders if her faith makes any difference and wonders if anything is real on the other side of the invisible.  

Ryan is trying to discern the work that is right for him. He is four years out of college. His current job sucks the life out of him. He wonders how he got here. If he has a calling, a God-defined plan for his work, he assumes he must have missed it. Unlike Jane, Ryan believes the fault is 100% his own, some flaw in his spirituality or practice. Like Jane, he is discouraged and feeling that he has somehow lost his way vocationally, and God is as hard to find as the way back.

So, where do we find God in our job search? How do we recognize Him, align with Him, and draw strength from Him when the road ahead is unclear? In this piece, we look to the life of Joseph, son of Jacob, to help us regain our foundation in Christ amid the upheaval of vocational change. Through the story of Joseph, we see that God is with us in the present, the past, and the future.

THe story of joseph

We meet Joseph in Genesis chapter 37, and he is the dominant character from there through the end of the book. Joseph is Jacob's 11th son, the favorite, smart, and yet precocious. He was born to be a shepherd but ended up being the prime minister and head of agriculture for the superpower of the day, Egypt. Joseph's life and work journey was a roller coaster ride. 

Already prized as the favorite son, Joseph returned from the pasture and spoke poorly of his brothers to his father. Joseph’s father decided to signal his favor towards Joseph by making him a robe of many colors. This act of favoritism sent his brothers into a fit of rage and jealousy. Then, Joseph had two dreams that he shared with his brothers and family in which he was reigning and ruling over them. When Joseph shared the dreams with his brothers, it pushed them over the edge, and they sold him as a slave. Joseph was purchased by a man named Potiphar in Egypt and forced to work in his household. As a result, Joseph went from favored son to human property in a foreign land. 

“Comparison to others, self-criticism, and impatient frustration rob us of God’s presence when we are engaged in job search and transition.
”

Before long, Joseph rose through the ranks. He had the wisdom to solve problems. He had high integrity and was trusted. Within a short time, he achieved the household manager's role, second in command to the owner. Then, another reversal happened. Potiphar's wife became infatuated with Joseph and tried to seduce him, to which Joseph refused. She accused him of rape, and he lost everything again as he was thrown in prison. Joseph went from top of the house to prisoner, fearing for his life.

But Joseph did well in prison. He was favored in the eyes of the warden and eventually ran the facility. The warden did not worry about anything because Joseph was in charge. Finally, Joseph is introduced to Pharaoh and given a role in the royal court and national administration. His story has what we might call a happy ending, yet it was a grueling journey. 

meeting god in the present

A phrase is repeated several times in Joseph's low points, at the places where he had to start over: “God was with him.” God was with him by delivering strength and favor in the present. When we hit roadblocks in our careers and job search journeys, God is still with us. Jesus promised to be with us to the end of the age (Matt. 28:20). As the psalmist writes: “I will fear no evil because you are with me” (Psalm 23:4). God doesn't always promise relief from the circumstances, but He does promise His presence.  

How do we connect to His presence?

1. We get quiet enough to hear the whispers of the Spirit in our hearts, reminding us that we are sons and daughters of God (Romans 8:15-17).

2. Whether our work is persevering in a less than ideal job or while searching for a full-time job, we offer it to God. Our work is our offering to him. We know He sees our work. We know He will reward us for our honest work (Colossians 3:23-24).

3. We find reasons for rejoicing. Paul said to rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4). In all things, give thanks. There are causes for gratitude despite the trials. Find them.

meeting god in the past

“The good works God has planned for you include your daily work—the actual activities you do, the people you touch, and the income you generate.”

How did Joseph keep going through the dramatic reversals in his circumstances? His hope must have been fueled by the ways God had cared for and provided for him in the present. His hope was stoked by the way God had met him in the past. His brothers originally planned to kill him but sold him instead. Potiphar could have had him executed, but he was left in prison instead. God was sovereign over him. 

Perhaps more significantly, God revealed to Joseph, in the form of dreams, the future he had for Joseph. When he was young and full of himself, Joseph did not handle this information well—he held it over his brothers. But in all those days working in Potiphar's house or administering the prison, he must have wondered, how will these dreams come to be? How will God fulfill his plans for me?

God has been with you in your past.  

1. He has given you talents and abilities with which to serve others and make a living (1 Peter 4:10, Deuteronomy 8:17-18).

2. God has rescued you from sin and difficulties. God has provided you with opportunities to learn, to work, and to impact others.

3. As we reflect on the past, we may find that God has given us a strong sense of burden, purpose, and ability to impact a defined group of people in a specific way.

meeting god in the future

The future. Anxiety is fear on fast forward. We worry about what will or will not be. How do we meet God in the future? As an older man, Joseph reflects (Genesis 48-50). As he forgives his brothers, he says, "What you intended for evil, God intended for good” (Genesis 50:20). God can take our world's brokenness, our industry, and our souls and work out a plan for good. God's plan defined Joseph's future.

God has a good plan for your future. In Ephesians 2:10, Paul writes that, “We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which He has prepared for us to do.” The good he has intended is not limited to church volunteers and missionaries. The good works God has planned for you include your daily work—the actual activities you do, the people you touch, the income you generate. Cling to this!

God has a plan for your work future. The hard part is this: God will let you know what that plan is when you need to know it. Comparison to others, self-criticism, and impatient frustration rob us of God's presence when we are engaged in job search and transition.  

God’s presence and plan for your future impacts how you work and wait.

1. When you visualize your future, have hope knowing that God will be there with you—no matter your circumstances.

2. We can trust that God, as the author of our story, has a better plan for our work than we could possibly imagine, even amid present uncertainty.

3. We can let go of our need for control even as we diligently seek our next assignment, knowing that it is the Lord who directs our steps (Prov. 3:5-6).

god’s presence in our search

Where is God in your job search? He is with you. He is with you in your past, in your present, and your future. He sees the beginning and the end. He knows what's next. He invites us to do our part in seeking opportunity, humbly receiving feedback, and diligently seeking His next assignment. He is the caller, and we are the called.

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Seeking further help in your job search? Check out our Career Navigator program in partnership with the VOCA Center.

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Want more resources from NIFW? Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also find more resources from NIFW on our blog and resources page.

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How Job Search Navigation Equips People to Pursue Employment

The economic impact of COVID-19 has created a pain point for many people in their work, whether that means being met with furloughs, hiring freezes, or sudden changes in the nature or pace of work. To help people pursue what’s next in their careers, Nashville Institute for Faith and Work (NIFW) is offering the Job Search Navigation program in partnership with the VOCA Center, featuring ten sessions of virtual job search group training with live coaching from career experts.

The next two cohorts will meet on Mondays or Tuesdays beginning November 9th and 10th. NIFW had a conversation with two participants of the program about their experiences in the program and the insights they received for successfully job searching today.

Nashville Institute for Faith and Work (NIFW): How did you feel going into the program, and how do you feel now having completed it?

Chad H. (CH): Coming into the program, I was nervous because job searching is a hard process, and I’m not always sure where to start. I knew having coaches would get me out of my comfort zone in needed areas such as changing my resume or refining my elevator pitch. After completing the program, I feel confident in the job search process. The coaches gave me great feedback, and I’m currently connecting with people and applying for jobs.

Niki F. (NF): I was extremely eager to learn more about my skills and how I could apply those to the job search. I came out of the Job Search Navigation program with a better sense of my innate God-given professional gifts, options for new career paths, and a toolbox full of skills that I can implement to land the next opportunity.

NIFW: How are you more equipped to navigate a job search now than when you first started?

CH: I have a better understanding of my strengths and skills to talk about in an interview based on my assessment results. Also, I feel more confident in building a strong resume, knowing which stories to talk about in interviews, and how to use LinkedIn to target and network.

NF: I am better able to articulate my talents, define my path forward, and secure a position within a company that I believe in. My original career path felt like it was circular with no way forward. Now, my path feels more defined, and I feel equipped with the tools needed to move forward.

NIFW: What job search challenges did you encounter during the process, and how did the training help you to address them?

CH: The question I was wrestling with during this process was whether I wanted to stay in my current industry, and if not, what field or industry I should pursue work in next. I had to do the work of narrowing down my industry options, which I was able to do through talking to different people and companies. Eventually, my career assessment results reaffirmed for me why I enjoy the type of work I’m currently doing.

NF: My biggest challenge was focused around having too many career options to pick from. I eventually realized that the informational interviews that were suggested were ways I could narrow that list. Once I made that connection, I was able to move forward.

NIFW: How did the group aspect of the training help support you in your job search?

CH: People gave great feedback and encouragement in our breakout sessions, helping me refine items such as my value propositions and resume. The group sessions were also a safe place to discuss the areas where each of us were struggling.

NF: The group aspect of the training was a huge motivator! It was great getting to know others that were walking through similar struggles and learn from them. Being able to rehearse my value proposition weekly with the group gave me confidence to do that outside of the group as well.

NIFW: What were your biggest takeaways that you learned in the program?

CH: Based on the different career assessments, I learned what my strengths and abilities were, which was reassuring and gave me confidence in understanding what field of work I should pursue. Additionally, learning how to tweak my resume when applying for jobs was vital information.

NF: My biggest takeaways from the program were learning that networking is essential (something I did not want to believe), developing a deeper knowledge of my God-given gifts through different career assessments, and being reminded throughout the process that God is for me.

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Interested in learning more about the Job Search Navigation program? Click the button below to learn more and apply today.

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Job Searching in the Wilderness

Numbers 11:4-8 (ESV)

“4 Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6 But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”

“7 Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium. 8 The people went about and gathered it and ground it in handmills or beat it in mortars and boiled it in pots and made cakes of it. And the taste of it was like the taste of cakes baked with oil.”

I’ve often compared my seasons of waiting to the Israelites wandering through the desert. Waiting and wondering, “How long, O Lord?” They weren’t given their five-year plan, let alone a weekly plan. In fact, every aspect of their lives was entirely dependent upon the Lord’s provision - including their daily bread. God invited them to trust His plan day by day, abiding in His care and provision. 

There is a parallel between the Israelites and the impact of COVID-19 on our work lives today. While our work varies, one thing we all have in common is that, in one way or another, COVID has drastically changed our work. We’ve all experienced a shift in our roles, our work environment, and the pace at which we work. 

How long will the job search last? How many more hiring freeze emails will I have to open? Why do I have to continue letting employees go in the midst of COVID-19? How can I manage to be a parent, employee, friend, and spouse in this season? For 40 years, the Israelites wandered through the desert, longing to reach the Promised Land. Longing to have a sense of stability again. 

How long, O Lord?

“Where is the manna in your life that you fail to recognize and thank God for?”

The change in your work life might have stirred a sense of wondering, “what’s next?” Perhaps this season is an invitation to reconsider your career trajectory. Like the Israelites who abided with God day by day, this might also be an invitation from God to trust His lead and sovereignty. 

If you’re in the midst of or currently contemplating a career change, here are a few ways you can feel more confident in your waiting and wondering:

1. Surrender your desire for control. Commit to trusting God’s provision and sovereignty. The Israelites were commanded “You may gather the food for six days, but the seventh day is the Sabbath. There will be no food on the ground that day” (Exodus 16:26). They were invited to trust God’s promise of enough manna to eat. The tension between longing and waiting leads to the temptation to seek control of your job search. Like the Israelites, consider how God might be inviting you to deepen your trust in His provision. A heart posture of surrender creates solid ground to search for a job. 

2. Gain career clarity. Where are you headed? What kind of job do you want? Consider working with a career coach or investing in a career course. Outside mentorship and wisdom provides direction in navigating a career change. Moses, the leader of the Israelites, mentored Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. Moses commissioned Joshua, encouraging him to “be strong and courageous, for you must bring the people of Israel into the land I swore to give them. I will be with you” (Deuteronomy 31:23). What book, podcast, coach, or mentor could you glean wisdom from in this season to point you in the direction of career clarity? 

3. Assess your transferable skills. Transitioning into a new industry requires thoughtful consideration of your transferable skills. One client I helped transition from healthcare to marketing was, at first, blind to her skillsets that were related to marketing. Her attention to detail, communication and client-care strengths, and management skills are just a few examples of transferable skills we implemented into her resume, cover letter, and interview. Spend some time thinking through which of your skills you’d like to utilize in your future job, and hone in on the transferable skills you can pull from your current or recent job experience. 

4. Research and refine. Research your desired industry to gain insight into the impact COVID-19 has had on the market and the job outlook for careers in this field. Refine your resume, LinkedIn profile, and interview skills to adapt to these changes so a potential employer can see how you might provide value for them in a hard time. The Israelites sent spies into the Promised Land before entering to ensure the land was fertile and to see where God was leading them (Numbers 13). Consider your time researching and ensuring that the industry you’re moving into is fruitful and where you feel God leading you. 

5. Build connections with professionals in your desired industry. Research proves that nearly 80% of jobs are attained through personal connections. Assess who you know and consider reaching out to them to learn more about their company and career journey. If you need to build new connections, utilize LinkedIn to find employees and send them a message. You’ll be surprised how willing others are to chat with strangers about their story, job, and company. 

A final suggestion is to search for your manna. When the Israelites wandered through the desert, they didn’t have much more than the clothes on their back. God provided water and manna, “miracle bread”, from heaven every day to feed and nourish their bodies. Once the Israelites grew weary of the manna, they began grumbling to God, asking for more delicacies to eat, rather than dewy bread from heaven (Numbers 11:5-6). The Israelites’ hearts shifted from gratitude to grumbling.

Where is the manna in your life that you fail to recognize and thank God for? In seasons of waiting, especially in the pains of job searching, practice gratitude. Recognize the good gifts our Father has generously blessed you with. Keep your eyes on the provider of all things, Jehovah-Jireh, “the God who provides.” Even though a job may not fall like manna from the sky, God is still providing for us, and we can find our deepest sense of security in that reality.

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR JOB SEARCHING:

If you would like to receive a free copy of the Career Navigator Job Search Guide, courtesy of NIFW and the VOCA Center, click HERE.

To learn more about and apply to our Job Search Navigation Program featuring 10-sessions of virtual job search group training with live coaching from VOCA Center career experts, click HERE.

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Lauren Carter is a career coach and entrepreneur who helps post-college professionals gain career direction and equips them with job search tools to land their dream job. After spending years working in Higher Education at Purdue University, she developed a passion for helping college graduates navigate the murky waters of post-college career paths. Outside of work, you can find Lauren with her nose in a good book, or kayaking at her family’s lake in small-town Indiana.

Finding Contentment in Unexpected Unemployment

The freefall of unemployment is frightening.

After experiencing success throughout their entire vocational careers, RoseWynne Brooks and Todd Foster found themselves at a crossroads in the fall of 2018.

They were both laid off.

The two overlapped as members of the 2018-19 class of the Nashville Institute for Faith & Work’s Gotham Program in the shock of attempting to land on their feet.

But it was precisely this place of brokenness that served as the impetus for change they are imagining in the journey of a surprise layoff.

“I went nine months from job loss to new job,” Foster said. “I honestly never thought it would take that long, it was much longer than I wanted. 

“But it was what I needed.”

Foster and Brooks collaborated on their capstone project in Gotham to create Career Walk, a partnership program where the two befriend and walk alongside others who are recently unemployed as they venture to establish their next vocational journey. 

“Where Todd and I got to, is we wanted to support people through that time of growth,” said Brooks. “Not in finding a job per se or telling them how to do it, but how do we support people through that time.”

Foster added with a chuckle, “I feel like I have a PhD in joblessness.”

The two have grabbed countless coffees and phone calls with Nashvillians whom they’ve met on a referral-only basis up to this point. Meetings are logged in an excel spreadsheet while Foster and Brooks check in periodically to help one another discern and pray for those they’re walking with.

“You're experiencing shame and the idol of pride is snapping at your heels every day,” Brooks said. “But to know that you have someone who says, ‘It will be OK,’ goes a long way.”

For now, Foster and Brooks will continue in their efforts while prayerfully considering ways to expand their work. Following up directly with Foster and Brooks via email is the best way to get involved if you or someone you know needs a friend to walk through an unexpected career change. Email info@nifw.org to receive their contact information.

Along with his Gotham experience, Foster also went through NIFW’s Career Discernment Program in partnership with the VOCA Center. Designed for those asking big questions regarding their vocational wirings, the program includes a handful of assessments, one-on-one coaching with trained professionals, and ongoing support through the discernment process. 

Regardless if you’re experiencing unexpected unemployment or are seeking deeper fulfillment in your work, the Career Discernment Program can offer guidance and insight amidst career tensions.

“It was transformative,” Foster said. “I’ve never done anything like that before, but, then again, I’d never lost a job before.”

Interested participants can apply for one-on-one coaching at any time via NIFW’s website.

In the meantime, Foster and Brooks are both pressing forward. Amidst their own unemployment stories, they’re content to continue offering a steady hand and an encouraging word to those walking through a valley they know on a personal level.

“As I look back,” Foster said, “we just want to shine some light in darkness.”

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If you are experiencing unexpected unemployment or want to better discern what work you are called to do right now, please join us on December 3 or 4 for The Building Blocks of Career Discernment Workshop. More information can be found here.

What If My Work Isn’t My Passion?

Editor’s Note: This article was written by Missy Wallace, Founder of NIFW and Vice President & Executive Director of the Global Faith & Work Initiative. This piece was originally published at thegospelcoalition.org.

I was recently asked if it is honoring God to have a “day job that pays the bills” instead of one aligned with your “passions“ Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. We hear this adage over and over, assuming it as a universal truth without analyzing its validity. So I went on a search for the quote’s origin, the science behind passion and work, and what Christianity might say about it all. Because if finding our passion is not, in fact, a path to vocational satisfaction, then what is?

A quick Google search reveals controversy over the quote's origin: Some sources attribute it to Confucius, others to an unnamed teacher highlighted by a Princeton professor in 1982. Whether it originated with an Eastern philosopher 2,000 years ago or an American academician 30 years ago, the quote’s prevalence as a job-search mantra has increased significantly over the last 10 to 20 years. When I was seeking my first full-time job in 1989, not once did the career counseling office at my college ask me about my great loves. And you can be sure my parents did not either. Their concerns were, “Have you found a job? When does it start? Does it pay enough to support you?”

Yet in recent years, nearly every person I’ve talked to about jobs—whether they're 20 and looking for an internship, or 50 and looking for a C-suite transition—somehow reference passion as part of their job search. Google search history affirms the trend: Since 2010, internet searches for “passion at work” have more than doubled, with workers in the United States the most likely to be interested in the topic.

At the same time, Gallup reveals that over two-thirds of the American workforce is disengaged (51 percent) or miserable (16 percent) at work. So if more people are searching for passion in their work, yet most are dissatisfied, where is the disconnect? I propose that both social science and God's Word refute passion as a major job-search criterion.

Here are four principles to bear in mind.

1. “Finding your passion” assumes passion is a fixed and/or inherent quality, whereas social science research suggests it's more of a developing and changing quality. Seeing passion as "fixed" can be limiting. Recently social scientists at Stanford and Yale-National University of Singapore published a paper arguing that passions are cultivated, not discovered. The study claims, “Urging people to find their passion may lead them to put all their eggs in one basket but then to drop that basket when it becomes difficult to carry.”

2. Passions, when channeled into work, often don't translate to giftings. For instance, we all know people who love to cook and might even call themselves passionate about food and cooking. Should they open a restaurant? How many have the skills or natural gifts to manage large numbers of people with various educational levels, have the wiring to work under intense time pressure, and have the financial acumen to create a profitable business in a low-margin industry?

3. Science reveals that turning a passion into paid work can cause it to lose its inherent pleasure. “Research shows that being paid to do something can make it mean less to us," wrote David Silverman, a senior executive at a Fortune 500 company. "By turning something enjoyable, like a jigsaw puzzle or a knitting project, into a paid activity, we turn hours of freely given effort into a commodity. It’s no longer a labor of love; it’s $10 an hour. The intangible nature of pleasure that derives from the activity is lost.”

4. Scripture reveals that even though God created us to take dominion and create productive flourishing, all work includes toil, regardless of its alignment with our interest and giftings. In secular verbiage, “work” is called “work” because it is “work.” The only people I've ever met who claim they “never worked a day in their lives” are ones reflecting back on their careers—and perhaps forgetting the difficulties the way a mother forgets the pain of labor. But those in the trenches, no matter how "called" they feel or how much they adore their work, almost always admit to its challenges and brokenness.

So if passions can evolve over time, are sometimes divorced from our natural giftings, and can lose their sense of pleasure if they become paid work, what should we consider in our job selections?

Of all the books I've read about career discernment, I find a section of Os Guinness’s The Call to be incredibly clarifying and encouraging. First, Guinness encourages us to think of having a “Caller” before a “calling.” So as you consider your work and your passions, are you considering what your Caller wants for you and how you can serve him by advancing his kingdom?

Guinness goes on to explain that we're all awaiting our “call” on a megaphone, yet very few receive it with such crystal clarity. Without the certainty, therefore, we should consider our gifting and circumstance. Weighing our abilities and our situations allows for incredible vocational inspiration and hope, while at the same time honoring financial needs, relationships, geographic constraints, educational access, and more.

So, as a very long-winded way to answer the tension between provisional duty and passion,, I heartily endorse “a less exciting ‘day job’ that pays the bills when needed. Are some people thoroughly enjoying their work? Certainly so, but let’s stop seeking that as the imperative goal.

I encourage you to assess the following:

• What are your gifts and wirings?  Do you know? There are many aptitude tests available, but one that is highly accessible online at a low price point is YouScience. There, you can learn how your unique aptitudes properly equip you for thousands of jobs.

• What are your immediate circumstances? Consider your finances, relationships, geographic location, and education.

• Which of your circumstances do you desire to change, and which do you see as fixed?

• Given your current situation, your desired future circumstances, and your unique abilities, how does your Caller nudge you to work?

• How can you reframe your perspective about work? Have you considered how you can serve the work instead of looking for the work to serve you (as Dorothy Sayers asks in “Why Work?”)?

I'm thankful we live in a world where discussion about vocational fulfillment and satisfaction is even possible, as the privilege of choosing work is a first-world opportunity that reflects a movement from scarcity to abundance. While God may enable us to work for him in our "sweet spot," we must acknowledge and steward the gift of that choice, remembering that our only true fulfillment is in him.

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When You Lose a Job and Didn’t See it Coming: My Experience with the Career Discernment Program

We are honored to welcome Todd Foster as a guest writer for today’s blog.

I’ve worked for only three companies since graduating college in 1997. I’ve been in Healthcare Sales for 20 years and most recently finished my 9th year as a Sales Director for a midsize diagnostic laboratory. This past May, I was one of four sales managers affected by a “reduction in force initiative.” In other words, after almost 20 years of stability, I found myself without a job. I was caught off guard and felt lost. My resume had not been updated in years, and I asked myself, what’s next?

I immediately got to work getting my LinkedIn and resume up to date, but I knew I needed more. I met Missy Wallace and knowing my situation, she asked if I would be willing to participate in the Career Discernment Program, a partnership between the Nashville Institute for Faith and Work and the VOCA Center in New York. I reached out to the Principal Consultant and Executive Director, Dr. Chip Roper, and I realized what I was missing in my job hunt.

My Career Discernment Program was individually tailored and lasted about six weeks. I participated in one-on-one advising, multiple assessments, reading assignments, and 360-degree feedback from prior colleagues. The in-depth Highlands Ability Battery, Myers-Briggs, and 360 feedback not only validated abilities I knew I had but revealed new strengths I hadn’t even realized. The assessments uncovered my particular learning style which I could immediately apply to my job search and future work.

This process was not only about deeper learning of my wiring, but I also created tangible resources that I can reference. In fact, I have an entire “playbook” on me. I keep an actual notebook divided into sections and include all my assessment results, 360 feedback, and supporting information. My “playbook” has clearly revealed my God-given gifts and has dramatically equipped my decision making and overall career discernment. I have also had some perspective shifts on how I should use my God-given gifts to serve the work instead of seeking only for the work to serve me and my ambitions.

I am more focused and better prepared for my continued job search, interviews, and future career. While I did not decide to make a major industry shift, I have refined my interests, skills, and made a more succinct job search plan that has thus far resulted in exciting opportunities for me. Interestingly, the knowledge I gained allowed me to confidently turn down a job offer, which was the right decision but hard to do as an unemployed father of three teens. Based on the conversations with my advisor, findings of the online assessments, and referencing my “playbook,” I am able to more clearly identify the type of work and workplaces where my specific wiring will be fruitful. I have not landed in my new job yet, but I feel well-equipped to choose one where I can thrive.

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