Read an Excerpt
STRESS POINT
Thriving Through Your 20s in a Decade of Drama
By Sarah Francis Martin
Thomas Nelson
Copyright © 2012 Sarah Martin
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4185-5080-6
Chapter One
STRESS POINT: CAREER WISHING FOR THAT DREAM JOB
Nearly every woman in her twenties at some point deals with career woes. We may not be in our dream job at this moment, and we may find ourselves so completely frustrated we'd rather curl up in bed with the comforter over our heads than go to work. But our careers were never meant to be the center of our lives. God planned your career to be a spoke in the wheel of your life, with Him alone as the hub of that wheel. He wants to be not only a reality in your career but the grounding point, the still center to which you come for wisdom, guidance, and godly success. Take a look at these case studies of three 20-something women navigating their careers. Maybe you will see yourself in these examples and take a deep look into your own career situation, evaluating your own top priority.
Girlfriend Case Study #1
Andrea ("Andy") Sachs from the movie The Devil Wears Prada. Andy is a young girl who moves to New York City in the hope of kick-starting a career as a serious journalist. Instead, she ends up as one of two personal assistants to the high-powered editor-in-chief of a top-notch fashion magazine. Andy is professionally and fashionably out of her league in her new job, but she's determined to make it work. Her boss, Miranda Priestly, sees Andy's potential and seems to test her again and again. Andy is frequently instructed to run out-of-control errands and meet impossible deadlines, yet she accomplishes every task with grace and determination, a characteristic that sets her apart from other girls in the office. Miranda notices and takes Andy under her wing. Andy almost loses touch with her dream as she flits around, basking in the glitz and glamour of the fashion world, but a conversation with Miranda jolts her back to reality. As Miranda and Andy sit alone in a limo following a meeting where Miranda has publicly stabbed a friend and colleague in the back, Miranda alludes to the fact that Andy is just like her—a thought that shakes Andy to her core. An interesting exchange transpires, sealing a decision for Andy:
Andy: What if I don't want this?
Miranda: Oh, don't be silly—everyone wants this. Everyone wants to be us.
It is Andy's dream of becoming a professional journalist that ultimately breaks her from the vice grip of Miranda Priestly. At the end of the movie, Andy runs into Miranda on the street, and Miranda doesn't even acknowledge her. Later on, we see Miranda in a limo with a smile on her face, as though to wish Andy well. An interesting note, after standing her ground, Andy ultimately gained Miranda's respect, which lead to an influential recommendation from Miranda to Andy's new employer.
Girlfriend Case Study #2
Ruth: a beautiful, intelligent, and ambitious career woman. During her college years, Ruth was highly focused and determined to graduate and find a high-powered job. She was the president of her sorority and involved in many campus groups. Once graduation came around, though, Ruth found herself unable to isolate her true passion and translate it into a job. Interested in world travel, Ruth took a job as a flight attendant, but the events of 9/11 changed circumstances drastically for the airline industry. Finding herself laid off, Ruth bravely packed up and moved from New York City back home to Texas. In the years immediately following, Ruth found herself once again in a state of limbo, uncertain of her passion and direction. Several job opportunities came around, but Ruth always found herself discontent with her situation, and she never stayed in one job for more than a short time. Each one of these job positions could have led her to a successful career, but the waning excitement after a few months in a new job often left Ruth unmotivated and unfulfilled. She recognized that each successive job had taught her valuable skills, and she was grateful for the experience; yet Ruth found herself continuously on the lookout for the "next best thing." She was searching endlessly for a dream job that she had not yet defined.
Girlfriend Case Study #3
Sarah (Me): a sales representative who focused in on one area of interest and landed her dream job by the age of twenty-four. During my senior year of college I aspired to find a sales position and worked hard to realize this goal. When I wasn't in class, working, or socializing, I spent most of my extra time researching the sales industry and networking. Although I was told by a recruiter at a college career fair that I wasn't ready to take on this type of job, I was determined that one day I would be. Several years later I did in fact find myself working for a large sales company and loving life. Day in and day out I thrived on successful sales calls, and the company rewarded me nicely for my passion and intensity. My whole world revolved around this dream job—it had become my passion. I lived for this dream job, but at what expense?
Worshiping at the Throne of the King
No matter what stage of our career we currently find ourselves in or what level of enthusiasm we bring to our job, we're called to worship our Lord in every situation. But if I'm stressing about my job, or the lack thereof, I would prefer to mope around in my jammies, feeling sorry for myself. When I'm experiencing career issues, it is difficult for me to find the energy just to lift my hands in praise.
Together in this book we will look at different names of God that shed light on His character. In the Old Testament especially, the Hebrews used names of God to display His character as a means of telling how God spoke to them or acted on their behalf. Out of all the names of God, this one speaks to me during stressful times at work: El Elyon, the High and Powerful. Look with me at Psalm 7:17. Knowing that I worship the almighty God who created the universe and everything in it assures me that He has everything under control, including my career. David, the author of Psalm 7, could shout God's name in a loud, grateful song because he knew God as his El Elyon—his God Most High.
I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High. (Psalm 7:17)
David praised the Lord as El Elyon to put his heart in the right place—to remind himself that God is above all. Over and over again in the Psalms and throughout the rest of Old Testament, we see Scripture that reminds us there is no other God but our almighty Creator, El Elyon. Also, as the name El Elyon suggests, the Lord knows you inside and out, so much so that He maintains a tally sheet of the numbers of hairs on your head at any given moment. El Elyon calibrated the human DNA system in a specific way just for you, in order to affect your particular personality and physical traits. As the Most High, He has your career under control, with all of its twists and turns worked out. Why doesn't He just let me go at it and allow me to work at something I'm passionate about? you might ask. What you may not be factoring in is that the Lord uses times of waiting to build patience and perseverance. God, your El Elyon, wants the best for you. You can give Him your best in anticipation by acknowledging that you're blessed with unique gifts and by being patient to wait on His timing for how your dream job might play out.
But what if your original dream job doesn't turn out to be all it was cracked up to be, yet you have no idea what you'd rather be doing? As our girlfriend Ruth struggled with dissatisfaction, she continuously placed her dreams in the Lord's hands. But what, specifically, does that mean? When we lay our worship and praise at God's feet and work to please Him, He'll work out the logistics for attainment of that dream job. If you dream and wish for that perfect job to come your way, steer your focus right to the throne of your King, your El Elyon. Our dreams might emcompass a fleeting moment or desire, but our ultimate wish should be the glory and purposes of the Lord. By worshiping Him in our job situations, whether or not the circumstances are ideal, we run smack dab into happiness, blessings, and fulfillment. Dissatisfaction in our jobs is enveloped and overridden by insatiable satisfaction in El Elyon—our one and only Wish.
What does the following verse say to you personally, with regard to your career?
I will cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all things for me. (Psalm 57:2)
God knows your dreams, but He wants to be your one and only Wish. He wants you to run to Him with your job woes, so He can scoop you up in His strong arms and console you with His wisdom, love, and peace. Take time right now to worship your God Most High and to thank Him, both for the gifts He has freely given you and for the future that is yet to unfold.
I encourage you to approach the throne of the King daily, maybe even hourly (if need be), as well as to take the time to worship God for being your Most High—the One who has your life, your career, and your dreams under control and running on course.
Waiting at the Throne of the King
You probably cheered for our girlfriend Andy as she stepped away from the glamorous job at the fashion magazine, because you knew the job didn't fit her passion and dreams. Yet even during her period of waiting, Andy observed, learned about the industry, and made the best possible use of her opportunities to grow and network. She took the job at the fashion magazine as a stepping stone, and it ultimately gave her great experience and connections to move on to her dream job. She knew where her passions lay, and she took concrete measures to move toward a job as a legitimate journalist. Though her time at the fashion mag wasn't always fun, the end goal was always at the front of her mind.
Do you find yourself, like Andy, in a position of limbo right now? Keep in mind that most people in their early twenties don't step off the college graduation platform directly into their six-figure dream job. Most of us have to pay our dues, putting in time in jobs that give us meaningful experience but barely give us enough money to pay the bills! This period may be considered almost a rite of passage, not to mention an important moment in which to practice waiting on God and submitting to His timing for our career path.
This type of waiting needs to be proactive, involving much more than clocking in at work and wishing each day away. On the contrary, God intends this waiting period to be a productive type of waiting, in terms of acquiring and honing skills while developing abilities you may already possess. During our time of waiting at the throne of the King, we're to grow in our prayer life and Bible knowledge as we listen to Him speaking truth to us about the direction He has for our lives—including our careers. This truth may not be easy to swallow. Maybe the Lord wants you to step off into a different career path from the one you've imagined since you were young. Maybe He wants this time of waiting to strengthen your character so that you'll grow into a woman of integrity and grace for your upcoming job. There can be no doubt that this period of waiting at the throne can, at first glance, appear to be a waste of time. But if God has an amazing plan for you, don't you want to be fully equipped not just to handle it but to succeed in it? Look at this waiting period as a time of refinement, and you'll be rewarded later on for your patience.
We discussed Jeremiah 29:11-14 in Journal 2, but I'd like to revisit this passage and focus specifically on verses 13 and 14. These verses are often found on cute little placards and fridge magnets. The problem is that we tend to skim this significant passage, failing to take it to heart with regard to our stress points. Take a moment to reread these verses in the context of waiting at the throne with regard to your career:
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the lord. (Jeremiah 29:11-14a)
Seek the Lord in the uncertainty of unemployment. Seek the Lord in your dysfunctional relationship with your coworkers. Seek the Lord as you step up the career ladder. Seek the Lord as you develop important job skills. Seek the Lord when you just can't seem to drag yourself out of bed to face another day in that cubicle. And when you do, you'll find Him—guaranteed. When you wait before Him and get to know His strength, power, and love, He'll reveal His plans for you. They'll be amazing, so stick close and obey. The verses above promise that His plans are to prosper you and give you a future, one in which you can be fulfilled no matter what job you have at the moment. Just keep in mind that it all starts with seeking Him and taking a seat at the foot of the throne.
Finding Focus in Him Alone
I have a tendency toward tunnel vision. This can be a positive trait when I'm working against a deadline or while I'm in the midst of a job hunt. However, when I wear my blinders my focus quickly turns away from the Lord. As I mentioned in our girlfriend case study, my dream job in sales consumed my life. I spent hours at night responding to emails, preparing for the next workday and researching industry trends. Not until late in the evening would I finally surface, only to notice that I had neglected housework, my fitness routine, and my loved ones. This really didn't bother me, however, since I had my work-tunnel-vision blinders trained forward and upward along the trajectory of my career path. As women, after all, don't we sometimes feel as though we have to prove ourselves just to keep up with the men? This perspective only fueled my intensity, which, I recognize in hindsight, often turned my coworkers off.
A narrow focus on our dream job isn't necessarily bad. Some of us are highly driven, and this serves us well. The problem comes in when we neglect the big-picture life with which God has blessed us, and instead go for climbing the career ladder or obtaining that holy grail of a dream job. In the end, living life with God in our sights is all about worshiping Him, serving Him, and balancing the rest of our life (including our career) in conformity to His direction. This happens when we train our focus on Him alone. Not on our job. Not on our paycheck. Not on our next career move. On Him alone.
The Lord spoke to my heart on this issue and set me straight. I needed balance in my career life. Prior to this, I'd been all about my job. Then one day during my Bible study a verse jumped out at me, and I found myself unable to backpedal away from it:
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24 NIV)
"As working for the Lord ..." Whoa there! Have you ever had a Bible verse smack you in the face? This one smacked me and alerted me to a cold, hard truth. I wasn't seeking to please the Lord with my work; instead, I was laboring to collect a fat bonus, to impress my boss, and to boost my self-esteem. After a while I realized that although this job was itself a gift from God, I was never intended to place my whole world around it. True and meaningful success comes when I work my butt off to please the Lord alone. But there's a fine line I cross when I live with, in, and through my work as though my life depended on it. Here are a few ideas to help you maintain balance in your life with regard to your career:
* If you're passed over for a promotion, keep in mind that you are to continue to work hard and to develop a plan for the next promotion. This isn't the end of the world.
* Bring balance to your work schedule by spending quality time alone with Jesus. Whether that happens before you start your workday, during your lunch break, or in the evening, consistency is key. Day-to-day communication with God points your focus in the right direction.
* Remember that your paycheck, or the lack thereof, doesn't define your worth. If you've worked to please the Lord, that's all that matters. You are worthy of Him, and He loves you dearly.
* Pray throughout the day. It's so easy to get caught up in office gossip or a customer crisis, while forgetting to bring it all to Him in prayer. The Holy Spirit doesn't shy away from giving us guidance, even in our career.
* Be a light pointing your coworkers toward the Lord. If we live as though our life revolves around work rather than around Him, how does this look to our coworkers? Do they even know we're Christians when we behave this way? I shudder to think back on the days when my boss and partners didn't even know I worshiped the King of Kings. My real worship was directed toward my job, which greatly disappointed the Lord. Balance and priority are keys to a life of godly success in the workplace.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from STRESS POINT by Sarah Francis Martin Copyright © 2012 by Sarah Martin. Excerpted by permission of Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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