Six Degrees
So often we separate our spiritual and professional lives... God works in our spiritual life and we allow that. However, our professional life is completely within our own domain (and by 'professional' I mean both work inside the home as a homemaker or home business owner, as well as outside the home careers). Our 'work' is something that we've trained for, something that we have earned, something about which we make our own decisions... even if coated in prayer.
We guard our professional lives cautiously and can be constantly on the lookout for something better, something more fulfilling, something that will move us higher and higher into the realms of ultimate personal success. We dread dissatisfaction in our professional lives. We feel that times of frustration and difficulty must be 'signs' that we should move on... that we should look for something better... that we should investigate options that might be a better 'fit'.
Let me suggest, however, that dryness and dissatisfaction in our professional life is yet one more way that God can work out our personal, emotional, and spiritual sanctification. Maybe God is not changing our professional situation -- maybe we're not 100% satisfied -- maybe we feel our boss is not using us to the full - maybe we feel our ideas are not being taken seriously -- maybe those we lead do not respect us and make our lives difficult. We dread going to work every day. We pray that our email messages remain under 500. We hope that there are no more new assignments thrown on our desks so we can simply finish off what there is to do and then rest or move on.
I truly believe, though, that sticking it out in such situations for the long haul with commitment and a servant heart gives God the chance to build our character and prepare us for the future and/or for the next stage of our lives. Forcing a change, quitting prematurely, or moving on to something that is 'easier' or 'more fulfilling' or 'more comfortable' (or even a seemingly better fit) may cause us to miss 1) a huge blessing from the Lord; and/or 2) important lessons that we can only learn 'in the storm'.
Giving the situation time is the only way we can see God's true fulfillment. *We* are God's passion and we must allow Him to work to the fullest in our lives. This is not easy because, try as we might, we cannot clearly see as God sees -- no matter how spiritual or 'connected to God' we think we are. God always has a plan for us that may or may not be completely revealed. This is where trust and faith comes in to play. Trust and faith, even in the times where we can't see what God is doing. Trust and faith, even in the times when we're ready to walk right out that door. Trust and faith, even in the times when all the professional motion seems backward or stagnant or a big waste of time.
I have learned that *only* waiting upon the Lord will make all (most? some? a few?) things clear. Crystal clear? Maybe not. But at least clear enough that we can see God's sovereignty in the midst of our uncertainty... see God's plan in the midst of our daily struggle... see God's love and concern for us in the midst of the apparent vindictiveness of every day life in the working world. It is the old, trite cliche of the silver lining behind every cloud. The shadows proving the sunshine. Maybe God should've said, "Ask (and wait) and it shall be given to you; Seek (and wait) and you shall find; Knock (and wait) and the door shall be opened to you."
We must pray that God helps us be patient in the journey -- no matter how long it seems to go on and on and on... and truly try to rejoice in the times that cause us the most earthly frustration, knowing that we cannot separate our professional and spiritual lives. They are all facets of the diamond that God has created us to be. Let us revel in the fact that there are no degrees of separation within us and that God works on us holistically every single day that we live.
~lk
We guard our professional lives cautiously and can be constantly on the lookout for something better, something more fulfilling, something that will move us higher and higher into the realms of ultimate personal success. We dread dissatisfaction in our professional lives. We feel that times of frustration and difficulty must be 'signs' that we should move on... that we should look for something better... that we should investigate options that might be a better 'fit'.
Let me suggest, however, that dryness and dissatisfaction in our professional life is yet one more way that God can work out our personal, emotional, and spiritual sanctification. Maybe God is not changing our professional situation -- maybe we're not 100% satisfied -- maybe we feel our boss is not using us to the full - maybe we feel our ideas are not being taken seriously -- maybe those we lead do not respect us and make our lives difficult. We dread going to work every day. We pray that our email messages remain under 500. We hope that there are no more new assignments thrown on our desks so we can simply finish off what there is to do and then rest or move on.
I truly believe, though, that sticking it out in such situations for the long haul with commitment and a servant heart gives God the chance to build our character and prepare us for the future and/or for the next stage of our lives. Forcing a change, quitting prematurely, or moving on to something that is 'easier' or 'more fulfilling' or 'more comfortable' (or even a seemingly better fit) may cause us to miss 1) a huge blessing from the Lord; and/or 2) important lessons that we can only learn 'in the storm'.
Giving the situation time is the only way we can see God's true fulfillment. *We* are God's passion and we must allow Him to work to the fullest in our lives. This is not easy because, try as we might, we cannot clearly see as God sees -- no matter how spiritual or 'connected to God' we think we are. God always has a plan for us that may or may not be completely revealed. This is where trust and faith comes in to play. Trust and faith, even in the times where we can't see what God is doing. Trust and faith, even in the times when we're ready to walk right out that door. Trust and faith, even in the times when all the professional motion seems backward or stagnant or a big waste of time.
I have learned that *only* waiting upon the Lord will make all (most? some? a few?) things clear. Crystal clear? Maybe not. But at least clear enough that we can see God's sovereignty in the midst of our uncertainty... see God's plan in the midst of our daily struggle... see God's love and concern for us in the midst of the apparent vindictiveness of every day life in the working world. It is the old, trite cliche of the silver lining behind every cloud. The shadows proving the sunshine. Maybe God should've said, "Ask (and wait) and it shall be given to you; Seek (and wait) and you shall find; Knock (and wait) and the door shall be opened to you."
We must pray that God helps us be patient in the journey -- no matter how long it seems to go on and on and on... and truly try to rejoice in the times that cause us the most earthly frustration, knowing that we cannot separate our professional and spiritual lives. They are all facets of the diamond that God has created us to be. Let us revel in the fact that there are no degrees of separation within us and that God works on us holistically every single day that we live.
~lk
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