Storytime: career complaints, God’s answer

Recently, I had a very intense conversation with God about my job. I was complaining about my current responsibilities.
Like most people, my professional journey has been filled with ups and downs. Early on, I attempted to pivot to other roles but was rejected interview after interview. I was laid off from my job, and after being re-hired, I experienced a brief career identity crisis due to burnout a year later. I often discuss this in my blog and book, as God has revealed both areas of His grace and my own pride throughout my career journey.

Areas of Grace:
Seasons of protection. Redirection. Blessings in disguise. God’s “no” was to prevent situations that would genuinely harm me or because He had something better in mind.

Areas of Pride:
Entitlement. My desires (money, titles, escaping accountability, comfort, identity from work effort) instead of His desires. Seasons when God said “no” to reveal a dangerous layer of my heart.

Pride is an aspect many of us hesitate to admit because it feels uncomfortable. We rationalize it away at every opportunity. But honestly, it happens, and it does not negate God’s goodness or make me a bad daughter. It simply makes me human, with a Father who cares enough to tell me the truth, even when it hurts, because He knows it can heal my soul.

Now, let’s continue the story lol.

A couple of months ago, I was tested at work when I applied for a promotional role on another team. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the role. However, the hiring managers provided me with feedback that, although difficult to hear (and unwanted and unasked for), was necessary for my growth.

Fast forward three weeks, and the same opportunity opened up on my direct team. I found myself feeling conflicted. On one hand, I wondered if this was a second chance from God—perhaps He had said “no” to the previous role to redirect me to this new position. On the other hand, I questioned whether it was simply my heart trying to rationalize my feelings once again. It had only been three weeks since I ended the interview process with the other team, and I hadn’t had enough time to practice their feedback.

After prayer, God led me to two scriptures.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
Proverbs 12:15 ESV

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.
Proverbs 19:20 ESV

I spoke with my manager and director about whether I should apply for the promotion. We explored all options: applying for the promotion, pivoting to something else, or staying in my current role. After some more prayer and reflection, I realized that the best decision for me was not to apply for the promotion.

To most people, this may seem like a foolish decision. Why not pursue something I want? Why pass up my second chance?

The truth is, God revealed to me that my main motivation for applying was financial gain. I was secretly seeking more financial security and believed I deserved compensation for the stresses of my job, which can be quite demanding at times. While I might have thought that personal growth was my primary goal, it became clear that this was just a facade hiding my true desires.

Don’t get me wrong; God can bring wealth. However, we need to be careful not to place too much importance on finances, as they can be here today and gone tomorrow. I realize it’s more important to God that I become a better steward of my current finances, rather than immediately assuming that more money is always the “God-given” solution. This is a lesson I have failed time and time again, and am still learning to this day.

He also taught me that with the promotional role comes greater responsibility, and that my work-life balance might change in ways I may not be prepared to handle just yet, even if I believe I am. So, once again, I trusted Him and continued to move forward, taking it day by day.

So, how did I go from trusting God with my career to us having to sit down yet again and discuss?

It all started during a hectic work week. I won’t go into too many details about my job, but I work in Finance. Most days, I’m focused on a new project, only for an older one to resurface unexpectedly. The duration of my projects can vary significantly, lasting anywhere from two months to two years, depending on ongoing negotiations. Sometimes, I have as little as one week to provide something back to my team.

Once again, I started to feel burnt out. During this time, I had a thought: “Sometimes, you have to pursue a career that offers stability rather than joy. This is simply the season I’m in. Happiness is fleeting; it’s better to focus on contentment.”

Then another: “I really don’t like my job right now.”

Then another thought, “God, you don’t care about my feelings regarding my career.”

And there’s the lie.

I didn’t even realize it was planted until I was watching my pastor on Sunday morning. When I realized it, my heart broke. I know God is in control; He is the provider, and He cares.
I know that whether His “no” is as pleasing to the ears as “just wait, I have better for you” or as hard to swallow as “you can’t handle this because you have pride”, He still cares.

Sometimes, we focus too much on security, leading us to mistake contentment for emotional suppression. We may start to believe that God doesn’t care about our feelings and that we are meant to simply “cope” with reality.

On the other hand, we can swing to the opposite extreme, where our emotions become idols. In this case, we end up pursuing temporary feelings to the point of numbing ourselves to anything that doesn’t bring us immediate pleasure.

God showed me there were two reasons this lie festered.

I still have some unresolved fears regarding my experience during the layoff season. Transitioning from financial stability to limited finances and back again had reshaped my mindset. I often remember the money that was lost and the time that slipped away. At times, I can’t help but wonder, “What if it happens again?” This fear drives me to cling tightly to what I believe are smarter, safer options—those that I think will create a secure future. When I feel that God has other plans, it creates a conflict in my heart.

The job application process and current workload overwhelmed me, causing a misattribution of emotions.

Sometimes, faith means being completely sure that God supports you. Other times, it involves sitting down with Him, discussing your thoughts, and allowing the Holy Spirit’s strength to take control.

The second reason is that I was busy not only at work, but I also wasn’t getting adequate rest. While I still took a Sabbath, I found myself staying up late during the week.

Sometimes, the way the Enemy attacks us isn’t about whether we read the Bible or not, or if we “welcomed” him in through demonic ways. Sometimes, he waits to strike when we are exhausted. This is why vigilance involves both reading scripture and applying it. One command that many people neglect is rest. We need to rest our minds by allowing tomorrow to worry about itself, rest our bodies by going to sleep at a reasonable time, and rest our souls in the assurance that God has everything in His hands.

So, that was God’s answer to me as I wrestled with Him concerning my career.

I hope this encourages you to truly submit your heart to Him concerning your labor. The good and bad.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:34 NIV

The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep.
Ecclesiastes 5:12 NIV

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
Exodus 20: 8 NIV