Uninterrupted employment
Sometimes the prospects for finding a job can look bleak. But under God’s guidance we can discover, nurture, and express our God-given talents in ways that benefit others as well as ourselves.
Sometimes the prospects for finding a job can look bleak, perhaps owing to claims that we are too old or too inexperienced, or that job opportunities are few or nonexistent. I’ve learned, though, that during trying times we still have help at hand.
After working at a particular organization for more than 20 years, when I was less than seven years from retirement, it was disconcerting to learn of the impending delocalization of more than 100 roles, including my team of 11. As more than two-thirds were being moved to other countries, there was a lot of anger and fear in the office atmosphere.
At first, I couldn’t contemplate working anywhere else. But I had turned to God and the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by Mary Baker Eddy, for help finding solutions and direction throughout my career, so it was natural for me to do so again during this challenging period.
As I began to pray about job prospects for all concerned, I found it important not to outline the source and nature of those prospects. This idea came to me from something I read in the Bible. It states that when Jesus was hungry in the wilderness, he faced the temptation to “command that these stones be made bread” – to outline the specific form in which his supply would come. However, rather than falling into this trap, Jesus said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:3, 4).
Jesus’ encounter illustrates the need to faithfully rely on every word of God. Malachi promises that God will “pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (3:10). Not only is a blessing poured out to us in the form of interesting and satisfying work, but we are also poured out as a blessing in our place of work. We are the very expression of God, good, at every moment, and we can strive to live this spiritual reality wherever we are – at home, at work, around town, abroad, and so on. Under God’s guidance, we can discover, nurture, and express our God-given talents. Every one of us has our own special niche.
Under my circumstances, to fully eradicate the fear that it would be impossible to find a job locally because other organizations in the region were also delocalizing work, I found it helpful to ponder the question, “Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?” (Psalms 78:19). The answer was and is and always will be a resounding yes!
For example, when Moses placed full reliance on God, he found water and manna in the wilderness to feed the children of Israel and himself. This truth was also beautifully demonstrated after Mrs. Eddy learned that a local farmer’s well was empty, which was affecting his cows’ ability to produce milk. She said, “Oh! if he only knew, Love fills that well.” The next day his well was full of water, to the utter surprise of the farmer, as there had been no rain for days (see “Mary Baker Eddy: Christian Healer,” Amplified Edition, p. 177).
This reassured me that there would be fulfilling employment for all concerned, in spite of the tight job market.
As I clung to all these ideas, the right path forward for me became clear. I had a quick and harmonious transition to an equally satisfying and progressive position in another organization. And happily, everyone else in my team also found new employment.
In God’s kingdom, supply and demand always balance each other. There cannot be any gaps or holes in God’s creation. We cannot be without purpose, usefulness, or value. God never wastes His work – not even one speck! God’s plan for good is complete and unfolds at the right time for everyone in a harmonious and orderly way.
As we focus on loving God – daily affirming our identity as His cherished and worthwhile offspring, and doing the good work He directs – the needed opportunities to express Him come along, showing our true, uninterrupted employment as His children.
Adapted from an article published in the Oct. 7, 2019, issue of the Christian Science Sentinel.