(Alternate title: ’How do we keep a Godly perspective in times of trouble.’)
I usually have a hard rule regarding not writing anything on the internet that involves my day job. Far too many people have gotten in trouble for mixing their work and personal lives, in one way or another.
I am going to break that rule because I think that the lesson I have learned (and the benefit to others from my realization) is important enough to risk the consequences of writing about it here.
I have had a bad attitude about work.
It’s bad, really bad. While I still did my job, and I did it to the best of my ability each and every day, my heart was no longer in it. I felt complacent, I felt entitled. I took it for granted.
I hid it well, at least that’s what I thought. While my attitude seemed largely hidden, every so often some of it would slip through. Often it was disguised as me upholding my boundaries, but underneath the carefully maintained facade was a seething storm of discontentment.
When talking about it with friends or asking for prayer about it, I would veil over it as the troubles being everybody else’s problems but mine. Blame a boss, or coworker, or corporate politics, or pick any of a million reasons to be unhappy with your job – I was doing well at deflecting the responsibility for my attitude.
And therein lies the crux of the problem: Responsibility.
You are responsible for your own thoughts, actions and emotions. Conversely, nobody else is responsible for your thoughts, actions and emotions, nor are you responsible for anyone else’s thoughts, actions and emotions.1
The words rang true in my mind as I sat there reeling under the onslaught of conviction for what I was doing. I had lost sight of what was important. I had to start taking responsibility for my emotions, actions and words.
It is written in James 1:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
Perseverance through trials builds character. Maturity. Growth. While not an enjoyable experience, this is a good thing, with an even better end result. Which is why we should be joyful about the opportunity, even if being in the middle of it doesn’t feel very joyful.
Thus begins the heart change. But there’s more to trying to change how I was thinking about the situation, especially one where I was so deeply entrenched in the bad attitude I had toward it.
Philippians 4 helps us with our focus:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Instead of constantly focusing on the bad parts, the disappointment, the frustrations, the politics or whatever else negative I’d been focusing on, I should focus on the blessings, the good things.
I am blessed to have a job. It’s a good job. It pays well. It puts food on the table, and a roof over my head. I could say all these things with an air of reluctance – forced gratitude, if I may call it that. But I actually am really glad for all of it.
Uncooperative coworkers, or managers that make decisions that just seem to pile on the work, can be a blessing – I have to practice exhibiting grace, I have to learn to deal with people and situations in a constructive way, instead of lashing out in anger or frustration.
That’s how we are called to behave, interact, deal with people. Not just when it’s easy, but especially when it’s difficult. That’s what makes for the biggest growth opportunity.
And growth is something we should look forward to and embrace, not fear.
1Source: Dr. Chris Thurman, Author of The Lies We Believe
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