No dead-end jobs

If you feel stuck in a job that doesn't really suit your talents or abilities , there's a way out. It's possible -- and natural -- to have adequate, satisfying employment.

That God is our creator and that we are His immediate concern as His immortal children is a major theme throughout the Bible. The Psalmist says, "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof, the world, and they that dwell therein." n1

n1 Psalms 24:1.

If we think of ourselves as frustrated, material persons caught in circumstances beyond our control, we may drift into accepting an employment situation as hopeless. If, on the other hand, we assert our God-given ability to reject this incorrect view and instead claim our immortal sonship with God, our perfectly and eternally active nature as God's idea, better use of our training and talents must come. We discover the divine power propelling us forward.

It's important to shed false pride in past accomplishments and make a humble effort to search our motives. Are we putting out talents to work right now for the good of others? Or are we just looking for some money and prestige? The fact of our pure spiritual nature gives us authority to deny false character traits that hinder present accomplishment as well as progress. We can express love and compassion toward oters instead of indifference and superiority, for instance; gratitude instead of ingratitude; meekness, not arrogance.

Material, selfish desires close thought to God's unerring will for us. Since God is Love, His will is always good and produces harmony and satisfaction. This is true no matter whrere we may find ourselves working now.

Prayer in which I humbly acknowledged God's control of my life helped me move out of a situation that I considered underemployment. I had just graduated from college with a degree in education and was trying to find a teaching position. At the time such jobs were scarce.

After several months of looking for work of any kind, I gratefully took a job in a department store. I was hired to check the obituary notices in the local newspaper in order to remove names from the store's mailing list. Not exactly what I had in mind for a career. But I knew God had a plan for me and that His pure, spiritual idea has no incomplete or unfulfilled element. And I knew this fact, this plan, would come clear to the degree that I gained a better understanding of Deity and my eternal relationship to Him. As I prayed, my faith in God's power grew.

Very soon I was transferred to another department, which trained me in more challenging work. A better opportunity opened up shortly in a service organization, and I changed employers. In a few more months, I found a good job as a teacher in another town. This was proof to me of Mary Baker Eddy's n2 words, "God is understandable, knowable and applicable to every human need." n3

n2 Mrs. Eddy is the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science.

n3 The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany,m p. 238.

Christ Jesus' early years as a carptenter were no doubt growing years -- years in which he learned to demonstrate, with humility and honestly, the nature of his perfect Father, the utter reliability of God's power. Later he moved naturally into his calling, preaching the gospel to mankind. He proved that at each step God was with them.

You too can ddevelop the conviction through prayer that God is your Father-Mother, that He cares for you and for your career. Toss away the depressing thoughs of "lost opportunity" or "dead end." Infinite Mind, God, gives man illimitable ways to express Him. His offspring cannot lapse into unhappiness and stagnation. Man cannot be stuck ina rut and forgotten. Mrs. Eddy writes of man's spiritual identity: "The individuality is embraced in Mind, therefore is forever with the Father. Hence the Scripture, 'I am a God at hand, saith the Lord.'" n4

n4 Miscellaneous Writings,m p. 103.

We and all mankind are included in God's love. As we see this and prove it through our lives, we will find the deep satisfaction of purposefull, God-inspired activity. DAILY BIBLE VERSE The Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought. Isaiah 58:11