Managing Difficulties in the Workplace

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

As I’m writing this blog, I feel drained. The workplace is a complicated terrain to navigate. As a minority, the additional layers of racism, amongst so many other points of discrimination, contribute to anxiety, frustration, and even depression. The expectations are high, and the workloads are even higher. Rest can feel like a hard place to find. Yet, we are called to keep pushing forward, to fight against the currents that work to constrain progress.

Tense work situations can feel like a losing battle when we fight from a place of self. Instead, Psalms 55:22 advises us to “Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved”. Connecting with God does not stop us from feeling the pain. Instead, God gives us a place at the foot of the cross to lay down our frustrations and pick up His strength.

It is by God’s strength, that we learn the power of resilience and determination. Instead of craving perfectly designed situations, we seek God above all else. We do not give up when faced with difficulties in the workplace. With God as the source of our wisdom, insight is increased. For some, we find new ways to generate income. For others, we apply to the jobs that were only just a dream, now believing our dreams can become realities. We start businesses. We invest. We share our wealth (eg. knowledge, time, money). And most importantly, we embrace being still, so that we can clearly hear God, and then move with greater precision.

Yet Growth Does Not Come Easy

It is only by a consistent relationship with God that we can look past what we think is right and embrace where He is leading us. I find solace in knowing that God is here for me and cares for me; I also know that I must accept the struggles that come. It’s a strange duality that can feel overwhelming. To know that God can, but accept that He has not, can feel like a strange betrayal. The mind plays tricks on us, attempting to convince us that in our darkest moments, we have been abandoned.

Yet God is still present. There is nothing that God has for us, that any human can stop. An overlooked job application is not the end of your journey. Leadership not acknowledging you doesn’t mean that you will never be seen. It is a mistake to place your blind trust in fellow coworkers to ensure the future of your career. Instead, navigate through your workplace and career journey with God at the center, knowing:

1. There will be rough days – take it to God in prayer and devotion
2. Mistakes will be made – be kind to yourself and give grace to others
3. Coworkers will disappoint – exhibit love anyway, finding peace in God

The Narrow Gate

Our jobs do not define us, but our daily decisions do. One of the most important decisions we will ever make is the choice of relinquishing self to God. Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14:

Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

For example, Queen Esther entered through the narrow gate when she chose to risk her life to speak with the king to try to save the Jews. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego chose the narrow gate when they decided to only worship the true God, choosing death over false worship. Our commitment to God is how we get through life’s obstacles. Anything less, and we are choosing a path of destruction.        

We feel, but we are not consumed.

As we journey along the river in dark times, understand that God’s light is there to guide us. If we keep our eyes on Him, the negative emotions will flow through us, but not consume us. Be confident in God’s ability to get us through any storm. It is confidence in God that parted the Red Seas. Confidence allowed a woman to touch the hem of Christ’s garment with the hope that she would be healed. Jesus Himself, was the perfect example of demonstrating confidence in God when he spoke about His life in John 10:18:

No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.

Our workplace environments and our careers can be the source of so many negative emotions. In every moment, place your hands into God’s hands, and be confident in where He takes you next. It may not be where you thought you would end up, or when you thought you would get there, but by God’s grace, no matter the difficulties in the workplace, you will succeed.