Reshaping My View of Work: A Reflection on God’s Faithfulness in Job Transition

I’m a big fan of the change in seasons. Perhaps it’s my glass-half-full mentality or optimistic view on most things in life, but switching to the next season brings excitement for what the newness might hold – fresh flavors, new colors, a blossoming of life, or a slowing of rhythms. But more than the seasons themselves with their colors, flavors, and beauty, I deeply appreciate the transitions between them and the opportunity to dwell on what God has been doing in me and the world around us.

It’s now officially summer (though here in Chattanooga it has felt like 95 and sunny for far too long already), and this change in season is particularly meaningful for me as I look back on all God has taught me between now and this time last year. I made a huge shift in my career since then, but more than that, God shifted my heart in the process. I want to share three pivotal moments God used to reorient my heart this year in hopes that God’s faithfulness in my own life will encourage you, too, to see His presence at work in and around you and listen to His voice no matter the season. 

Listening to the Stirring of My Heart

The first “moment” wasn’t necessarily a moment in time, but a stirring in my heart that left me restless. At the time, I had been with my company for seven years working with the sales and marketing teams. It was a wonderful company full of great people. I was steadily gaining responsibility and moving up the ladder in my career as a marketer in tech. It made so much sense from the outside, but I was having a hard time balancing my job and the rest of my life. I couldn’t figure out how to be all in for my career and also all in for the things I loved outside of my career. I knew I was meant for more than working for the next pay raise, but how could I be focused on my career and the rest of life at the same time? How could I be a great marketer and a great wife and a great leader in my community? As my curiosities and questions mounted, I decided to reach out to a mentor in the workplace. I wanted to know how he managed to hold work life and faith life together with so much responsibility as a C-level executive. So I sent him the following email:

“In the working world, it’s been tough to find someone who truly lives out their faith in the workplace. You do this well, and I greatly admire your Christian leadership. When I think about what it means to live a gospel-centered life in the workplace, I think of many attributes you have that point to Jesus – you are eager to listen, slow to anger, give grace when people make mistakes, full of integrity, hard-working, and people-loving. Thank you for being such an example. My question is this: how do you maintain a work-life balance at such a high level of leadership? The longer I stay in the workforce, the harder it gets to devote my time to both work and others outside of work. How do you do it well?”

His response and the many back-and-forth conversations that ensued were a massive encouragement in my faith and work journey, and most certainly a purposeful relationship God used to speak to me in the process of shaping my mind and heart.

Listening to God’s Voice in Community

While I was in conversations with this leader, I started attending Chattanooga Faith + Work + Culture, now Faith Co-Op, Lunch and Learn events. To be honest, I intentionally showed up 20 minutes late every time so I could just sit in the back and listen. I knew I wanted to be there, but I wasn’t sure why, and talking to people seemingly more intelligent and versed on the matter than me was intimidating. But I was drawn to that hour-long event once a month where I felt the freedom to think, to ask questions, to let my brain wonder, and to listen to what God was putting on my heart. It was from these lunch conversations that I first heard a truth I believe profoundly impacted where I am now: We’re all called to be creators within our work to bring flourishing to society. I had never thought of myself as a “creator” before. I hadn’t designed a logo or started my own company. I managed digital marketing programs in the tech industry. This idea of being a co-creator with God through my job, and the ongoing conversation with my coworker, propelled me to sign up for a Faith Driven Entrepreneur class. I wasn’t really interested in becoming an entrepreneur, but I had a lot of questions on faith and work and I wanted a group of people to talk through them with. On the first day of class, our group facilitator shared words of wisdom that confirmed I was right where I needed to be:

“It’s not a question of how to balance work and faith. That’s actually missing the point completely. Work and faith aren’t two separate entities on a scale. Rather, faith is integrated into our entire being, including where and how we work.”

It took me a while to unpack what that meant and how to live it out practically (I’m still on that journey!) but God used that class, community, and conversations to form and shape me. At the same time, the trend of tech layoffs provided an opportunity to step away from my career to unpack what I was learning. 

Listening in the Stillness

I’ve always been good at listening. In fact, I think it’s one of my natural gifts to love people through listening. Unfortunately, over the years I had forgotten how to listen to the most important voice – the voice of God. With the sudden transition to unemployment, I had no idea what “next” looked like. But I heard God telling me to slow down and listen. I had the privilege of other income to take time to listen (for which I am incredibly grateful and recognize that isn’t always the case), so I spent the first part of my time without a job listening. I slowed down long enough to let the fear of failure dissolve, the doubts of decision-making dissipate, and the anxiety of what’s next be replaced with contentment in Jesus. Slowly, God reoriented my heart toward Him. I realized I had been doing a pretty lousy job of creating space in my life to listen. I wasn’t intentionally guarding time to be filled with God’s presence and hear what He wanted for my life. I wasn’t starting my days reminded of my worth before I started producing work. I wasn’t allowing God’s spirit to set my vision. Instead, I was working out of my own strength, exhausted and discontent with the speed in which I was moving, nearsighted and lost in the race up the ladder. To be clear, I think moving up in your career is wonderful, and working hard, earning money, and being successful in your job are good things. I just wasn’t doing them faithfully, or intentionally, which was a dangerous place to be – the enemy is oh so tempting with the lure of comfort and materialism. I mourned this lifestyle I had been living and felt a fresh sense of purpose in my days. It wasn’t a linear journey, but with God’s guidance and a strong community around me, I re-learned how to walk by faith and not just by sight. 

A Renewed Vision for Work

Through the questions stirring in my heart, the conversations on God’s design and desire for our work, and the gift of a season of listening, I entered the job search with a renewed sense of purpose in the workplace. I was genuinely excited to find a place where I could create value for others within the field of marketing. I felt invigorated knowing that my work wasn’t separate from the rest of my life, but that I could take my skills and experience into my job and actually participate with God in His work in the world. It’s been almost a year now since I started working at Faith Co-Op, a place that has been pivotal in reshaping my understanding of faith and work. I don’t have it all figured out, not even close, and I still have plenty of questions. I don’t know what’s next in my career or what job I’ll have in 5 years. But by His grace, I can continue listening to what He’s teaching me and where He’s leading me. I’m confident that whether it’s non-profit, tech, or something totally different, there’s value and purpose in it because God designed me to faithfully serve Him in all my vocations, including where and how I work.

It’s been a beautiful thing lately to look back on last summer and be reminded of the simple, easily forgettable, yet powerful truths:

• There is no sweeter voice than the voice of God
• God is faithful, even when we are faithless
• He is restoring all things to himself, including our work 

May you be encouraged in reading my story that God desires to use you, your gifts, your skills, and your current place of work to bring flourishing to His people and glory to His name. And may you be reminded to take time to listen to the voice of God that you may always be oriented to His faithfulness.

Written by Mel Pipkin

mel@faithcoop.org