Does God Care About You Career?

Do you ever find yourself questioning your career path or wondering if you are truly walking in God’s will? Trust me, you are not alone. My own journey has been met with challenges and continual surrender to God.

What I’ve realized is that when I ask if God cares about my career, I’m really asking a deeper question: "Does He have a plan for my life—specifically, my professional life? Deeper even, “Am I, and what I do, important to God?” And truthfully, that question has often pushed me into seasons of striving and doubt.

Though its hard to go against the grain, isn't it? After all, in today's society, our career has become an identity to parade through social settings. Often we hear, "So what do you do?" and our answer is tied to our worth and productivity. Society's message is clear: our job will define us, provide for us, and promote us. But my friends, we have fallen into a snare of lies.

I too was in this mindset before the Lord opened my eyes. You see, my career goal before I followed Christ was to seek fame and glory. I fought to prove myself and my aspirations only magnified that fact. Though when I came to know Jesus, I was left with the question: “What now? If all my career goals were to seek my own glory, how do I now seek Yours?” Therefore,  I began examining my purpose with God: asking Him what He might have me do.

Sooner or later, I felt His call for missions, His guidance with starting a magazine, and a heart to use my creativity to bring others to know Him. Through a studious season, he highlighted my gifts and pruned me to look more like Him. So of course, my first thought was: “Yes! This is what I’m meant to do! This is who I am and who God created me to be! This is the path paved for me!” Yet I was so naive. 

Because eventually, my plans fell through and my identity collapsed.  The internship I had ended suddenly, my magazine was struggling, and all my creative endeavors were taking more time than I realized. More than anything, I was getting close to burn out. Everything I was working towards plummeted. Then, I found myself working back in retail feeling like I failed.

I felt lost, thinking: “If all of what God said was true, then why am I not walking in His plans yet? Does God still care about my career and how I choose to spend my life?” In this doubt and confusion, I sought the Lord. I read many books (see footnote) and spent time in the Word. Through all my searching, I was still looking at the situation in the lens of my career: leaving me trapped. That was until the Lord began to speak to me.

It started slowly, in whispers, scriptures, and quiet times with the Lord. But it began to shine brightly in two specific moments. One was when I attended the Zion Caravan Tour concert with a friend. The artists were taking time to discuss the meanings of their songs and sharing sweet biblical truths. To which, a friend and I were enriched and overjoyed to experience!

At some point during the night, John Mark Pantana performed Made for Jesus. As he was singing, I thought back to what the artists were sharing previously throughout the night. I was inspired by their passion and love for Jesus. More than anything, I was drawn to how they seemed to see the world as I did: through beauty and stories. They saw the potential to share the good news through their creativity (1 Peter 4:10) just as I had. I couldn’t  help but daydream about how I wanted to do the same thing as them. The thought: "This is why I exist” rang in my ear as I bobbed my head to the melody. But then, John Mark sang:

“The whole point of my existence is to know You Lord”

I stopped, tears in my eyes. It was as if God was telling me, “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Remember you are my daughter first.” 

I finally realized I had been getting it wrong for so long! My career aspirations had become a place of anxiety and worry and if I'm being honest: idolatry. And in this moment, I was struck by His love and care for me. A sense of peace rushed over me knowing that I didn't have to strive or produce anything because I was simply made to know Him!

Though the Lord wasn't done with my heart and my discovery. Later on, my pastor also preached a sermon furthering my discovery of my existence and how my career tied into it. He defined:

Purpose: Is to know God and make Him known

Calling: Is a personal burden or dream God has given you for your life

Assignment: Is the role you are in right now, and you can live in multiple ones at once. (Vocational, local, church, community, family)

I remember sitting there as the gears were turning in my mind. I was thinking about my assignment, the places I was in, the people I was interacting with. That though I might be in a job I didn't want to be in for long, there was a mission field there, and I had been adhering to that. Though, when I looked at the list, not once was career mentioned. Meaning, our career is not equal with why we exist.

My friend, the Lord refined my desire for significance and worth. I was so set on finding my significance in my career and the impact I produced. And what I came to realize is that a career is very small portion of our life. If anything, our job is often just a byproduct of our purpose, calling, and assignment: not the source. We must remember to seek first the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 6:33). 

So, may I remind you that your worth can only be found in Jesus. A job or promotion can't manufacture what He did on the cross. And a heart set on acclaim and productivity will always be on a shaky foundation.

You asked does God care about my career. I see your heart, just like the Lord saw mine when I asked the same question. To answer, yes, he does. Because God cares about what we care about. (Matthew 6:30). But the way He sees our career and our path ahead will not always look like how we imagine. For he is much more concerned with our closeness to him and who we are becoming. So we must learn that when our career is stalling or isn't looking like we want, and learn to let go what the world (our ourselves) expect of us. Our career does not define us, the Lord does. And when the path ahead appears unknown, we can rest in this verse:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:15

I hope my testimony has encouraged you. I understand that navigating the career world can be challenging, but you can lean on the Lord to guide you. If you are in a job you love, hate, or are desperately seeking: know He sees you. Most of all, you can rest assured He has a plan for your life, regardless of the title or position you hold. You were created to be known by Him, and that is our greatest treasure. So don’t fear, God’s got you!

Book Resources: Blessed Are the Spiraling by Levi Lusko, Shine by Allison Allen, Now Over Next by Hope Reagan Harris.

An aside:

When I wrote this article I was in the middle of a job hunt for about a year. During my time in retail, I met many amazing people and even got promoted to manager. But through it all, I was still seeking the thing I was meant to do. The Lord refined my thinking and slowly it just became about being faithful where I was and using my gifts where I could. The season of waiting became a season of just trusting and resting in where I was. Saying "I'm good here," even though I wished for more. 

It was during a 21 day fast with my church when I received an interview with  a local non- profit as a copywriter. It was, in all its definitions, a job perfectly suited for what I had to bring and what I wanted to do. 

I remember driving to the interview trying not to cry because of God's faithfulness. Not because I finally made it or I became someone better. But simply because I recognized God's hand in every step of the way. I was in awe at how gracious He was to give me this gift. I remember thinking: "Is this what it feels for the waiting to be over? To be on the other side?"

 There is a joy in having the job you've waited for, undoubtedly. I know I am so excited to meet my team and bring my gifts to the table to help the mission. But above getting the job, I have found greater joy in the God who is faithful. That is where my praise goes and my thankfulness rests!

I share this bring a conclusion to the story of discovery and sanctification the Lord brought me through in hopes to encourage you in your own journey. God bless!