Direction, paths, and over thinking

So, at the beginning of the year, I decided to write a monthly post. I had all of the topics laid out, then COVID-19 happened. I started working from home, and found the urge to write was more pronounced. This led me to a weekly post instead of a monthly one. I'm grateful for the inspiration, and the time to spend writing; however, I found myself a bit off track from where I thought I would be and what I thought I would be writing. You see, much like everything in life, my path took a route I didn't expect. I was planning to take a bit of a departure from just Bible study, and to write about being a believer in the workplace. I was going to pull out some of my lessons learned in trying to find my way on the career path, and how I've seen God's direction often times by looking backward not forward.

As I mentioned last week, I'm all about doing what God's called me to do, and to be who He's called me to be. I spend, probably way too much time, thinking about where I am today, and where He wants me to go next. It is highly likely that my planning and considering borders on worry, which I know is not how God wants me to spend my time and energy.

The post earlier this year titled Who Am I? was meant to kick off this self-exploration series that would ultimately give us practical steps to be women of God in the workplace. While this subject is one I am quite passionate about, the path is a winding one. We took a left turn to instead focus on God's word and what He was teaching me through the new chapter of working from home, quarantined, anxious, and confused by all of the events of the day. I'm thankful for the detour, which also got me thinking.

In January, when I laid out the blog topics for each month, I assigned this one to the month of May, but it seems appropriate now. My original post was going to lay out how I've progressed in my career, and while I had a plan of where my career would go, God had other plans. I was also going to share how a professional came to speak with a group I was in one time, and he mentioned that sometimes your career path is a series of lateral moves that eventually wind up being a promotion. I've been there, done that, too. When I look back, though, I see that God was with me every step of the way. So, why do I have such difficulty believing that He's got me on the path He wants me on?

Just this morning, I was praying, "God, how is what I'm doing today bringing You glory? What about this job at this moment is making a difference for Your kingdom?" I didn't get an answer today, but that doesn't mean I won't ever get an answer.

I don't have a bunch of Scripture to back up this post today, I'm honestly rambling a bit. What I want you to know, and to consider, is that sometimes we are to just be faithful in doing a good job at whatever we are doing right now. I am not at the office, but I put in my 8 hours responsibly every day. I don't take advantage, goofing off, or taking long breaks. I'm at my desk from 7:30-4. I take two 10 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch break. If something does happen that takes my focus away, I make up the time. I'm not trying to brag, I'm just saying that I'm doing my best to be a person of character even when there is no one around. Being a person of character is glorifying to God, and hopefully, that points my co-workers to Him.

Likewise, I do my work to the best of my ability. I don't cut corners and do the bare minimum. I work as working unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23). I don't do my best, because I'm afraid of punishment. I do my best, because I want my work to be a reflection of God to those I work with. Again, no one is looking over my shoulder right now to see if I'm working or not. No one is checking up on me to see if I'm doing what I'm supposed to. My hope and prayer is that my co-workers and my boss trust me enough to do my work and that I am delivering a product that they know who I ultimately serve.

Is my day to day work something that directly points to Jesus and encourages people to trust in Him, no. Do I try every day to be a light to those around me (virtually right now) by showing integrity and character in how I work with others and by the work I produce, absolutely! Scripture says we all have different gifts - that was the point of the post in March linked above. I'm using my gifts in my day to day and working in the strengths that God gave me. I, we, have to trust Him to lead me/us on the path of our life and our career.

I can plan, and fret, and worry, but ultimately, God's will, will be done. I can pray and ask for what I want to happen, but no amount of strategery, manipulation, turning of oneself inside out will bring what I want to pass. I may get what I want for a moment, but it may be uncomfortable, and ultimately, God will bring me around to His way of thinking - His path that was there all along. How much easier would it be if I prayed and waited instead of worrying about tomorrow?

I'm guessing that I'm not alone in this constant striving to do and be who God's called me to be. If I've guessed correctly, share on the Facebook page how you fight the urge to control the situation and try to have the path you want, instead of trusting God on the winding one. We ask for a straight path, as Scripture teaches, but that doesn't mean straight like an arrow or a straight line. It means a level path, one that is righteous and true (Strong's G2117- euthys). We may make lots of twists and turns in this life while following Jesus and sometimes while not following Jesus. The goal, though, is TO follow Jesus in the path of righteousness, the one that is level and true - even if it is all over the map.

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