Prayers for changing/new work
It can be exciting, challenging, and terrifying
I probably have not been more scared in my life than when I realized one day after leaving ministry that I had no “next career” lined up.
When the money started draining from our account because of bills and things…absolutely terrifying.
Thankfully, I had a great part time job. I was able to talk to my managers and just be brutally honest in saying that I didn’t know what was next but I had plenty of availability to work and needed some more money.
They bumped me up in pay, gave me as many hours as they had to give, and put me on the track to take on new responsibilities.
I’m still at that job 3 years later. I’ve risen about as high as I can go in my department (for the moment). And I am beginning the transition to working there full time in the near future, one way or another.
For me, this has been a long and slow and planned transition into a new career. For others, these transitions come with a lot of anxiety or fear or overall uneasiness.
The prayers of Jeremiah come to mind in these situations. “For I know the plans I have for you.”
And, of course, “be still and know that I am God.”
Praying through a job or career change is the same as any other difficult transition in your life.
Seek the Kingdom, seek God’s will, and seek God’s provision every single day. Come to think of it, you’ll do a lot of seeking.
Which, just for the sake of argument, let’s consider what it means to seek by using the age-old game Hide-and-Seek.
Do you sit and wait for those who are hiding to come to you? No.
Do you just give up after opening your eyes? No.
You get up and actively start searching. So by seeking God in prayer about your job or career change means actively looking for where the Spirit is moving.
My prayer for today
Our Father, I have often looked at moments of change in my career or job or intended path as a series of unfortunate events. Help me, instead, Father, to see them as a way to rely on you even more. Amen.
Remember
Being anxious and nervous about a new job is totally and completely normal. Don’t try to “push through.” Recognize and respect your feelings, then seek God in prayer.