Working Hard or Hardly Working?

When we moved to NC from Oregon 13 years ago, I took a job in a new career field- working for the federal government- writing disability decisions.  Before moving, I had been the counselor at two elementary schools, meeting with literally hundreds of students each week, which I thought was my calling and my dream job. I went from that to sitting behind a computer screen and reviewing records and writing about them- by myself- for eight hours straight each day.  It was a drastic career change.

At first, it was a welcomed relief, as counseling was tough emotionally.  However, after a while, I started to feel out of sorts, as if I was doing something contrary to who I was, which was a people person, who loved to help children and someone who always worked in jobs that also felt like ministry.  I questioned why I had stepped away from a career that I had thought was my calling and what I had worked so hard in school for.   I started to feel depressed and worried that I had missed my calling and that I just flat out was not doing what I was supposed to be doing, according to what God wanted for my life.  I even held it against my husband for a while- acting as if he took me away from my “calling,” even though this was a choice we both made together.   

I became very worried that I was living in a way that was against God’s will- all because I had changed careers.

Man, how many of us “churchy” folks have been worried about living within God’s will our whole lives; especially when talking about our career choice?  Even as a teenager, I worried about it.  I worried that I would not find my “calling” and would miss out on the wonderful life that God had planned because of it. 

When we ask what God’s will is for our lives, we first need to stop and ask ourselves what his will is, in general.  When Jesus was asked about what his greatest commandment was, he simply stated that the first and greatest one was to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind (Matt 22:37).  He then stated that the second greatest one was to love your neighbor as yourself.  He said that all of the other rules stemmed from these two.  Again, as I’ve said multiple times, I am no theologian, so take or leave what I am about to say….. If Jesus stated these were the two most important laws, then wouldn’t it make sense that if we are following these two commandments we are living in his will?  Our specific job title is not important to God, but our heart, character, and how we love/treat others is what matters. 

Here I am, 13 years later, working at the same office, but I have worked my way up into the director position, which I would have never imagined would have happened for me when I started all those years ago.  You see, God knew what was coming my way, and I just had to step forward each day, one step at a time, work hard, love God and others, and trust that he was guiding my path.   I am now in a position where I truly feel like I can use all the skills and abilities he has given me and lead others in such a way that shows God’s love each day.  I am very grateful and happy to be where I am now and feel as if I’m living out my purpose.  I never would have thought back when I was working on my master’s degree in counseling that I would wind up using my counseling skills as a leader in an office one day and not actually as a counselor by trade.

So, take a deep breath, relax, and quit worrying about whether you should stop taking computer classes and join a monastery.   As long as you are following these two commandments, your actual career path is not important to God.  If you are living out these rules- or at least working on them daily because none of us are perfect at it- you are within his will for your life. 

I have spent many unnecessary years throughout my life worrying about this (before God healed my anxiety, of course), so I thought I’d share my revelation with you on this.  I hope that you will feel content with where you are now and not worry about whether you’re pursuing the career that God intended for you.  He cares about your heart- let him work on that first and the rest will fall into place.

With love,

Lyrica