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Help Wanted: Devotions for Job Seekers

  • Aaron M. Basko Educator
  • Updated Apr 16, 2013
Help Wanted: Devotions for Job Seekers

Excerpt taken from Help Wanted: Devotions for Job Seekers, Copyright 2012 by Aaron M. Basko. Published by Judson Press, Valley Forge PA. Used with permission.

The phrase “Help Wanted” gives hope to job seekers everywhere as they read it online or see it on a sign, but it also describes how we can approach God during this time of transition. The goal of this book is to challenge you to look at your job search the way God views it. Rather than an awkward pause in your career that makes you panic, a job search can be a chance for God to guide you toward what you were created to do, and for God’s glory to show through in your life.

The world is not always kind to job seekers. The market can be incredibly tough for new graduates looking for a first opportunity. It can be just as bad for experienced workers who lose a job or find themselves in an unsustainable situation. But I am convinced that God wants to make the most of this unique time in your life. If you know Jesus Christ, and you can trust him to guide you, your search can result in God’s glory for your good.

Yes, a job search can be a stressful time, but it can also be a time of great growth and exploration as the Lord teaches you more about his purpose for your life. Let the devotions in this book provide the help you want—to energize, equip, and encourage you for your big leap!

In the Hope of Glory

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. —2 Corinthians 4:15

The world’s message is that your value depends on position—your job title, annual income, and academic degree. According to this way of thinking, the job hunt is something to be ashamed of, perhaps because it suggests that you can’t inspire employers to come looking for you. But why do those of us who belong to Jesus fall for this? After all, we believe that the Son of the living God died on a cross to show how much we are worth to him. Jesus did so without checking any credentials, giving up his own position in glory without regard for any of our accomplishments, or lack of them.

In an even bigger gamble, Jesus entrusted his kingdom to a ragtag group of rough fishermen, corrupt tax collectors, and religious extremists who deserted their leader right before the cross. Your résumé looks great compared to those of the twelve disciples! Why should we be ashamed of our talents, our hopes, and our efforts to discover the work for which we were created when God was willing to take such wild risks on us?

Remember the example of Jesus, who gave up a throne in heaven’s glory to sojourn with us on the dusty roads of first-century Judea? Is it possible that this trying time in our professional lives, when the job market deals out plenty of black eyes, can actually become a time of triumph? Can it be a time when we hear God’s voice more clearly and when God’s glory shines through our situation? Romans 5:2-5 says: “We boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

We can count on God’s promise that we are reaping benefits from our trying time. The Romans 5:2-5 passage above may seem scary because it explains that often it is suffering that matures us and grants us unshakable hope. If you are reading this book, however, chances are you are already suffering through the challenges that come with the job hunt. Therefore, you can be sure that the “good stuff” promised in this verse—perseverance, strong character, and God’s hope, which does not disappoint—is on its way if you are seeking the Lord’s will as diligently as you are seeking new employment.

As you take on the challenges of the job search, be on the lookout also for what God is doing. If your eyes are open, you will see the Lord’s glory shine through for your good!

One Small Step for Today

One of the first steps of a job hunt is compiling an up-to-date résumé detailing your education, skills, work history, and other experience. Imagine the great Bible heroes, such as Moses or Esther, Paul or Mary Magdalene, writing their own résumés. How would those résumés have looked before they discovered God’s purpose—and then after? Now look at your own résumé. Highlight any area that may be a barrier to finding meaningful work—lack of education, experience, or skills. How might the Lord receive glory in these areas of weakness or lack?

Buried Treasure

I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord.Psalms 112:4-5, NIV

God has quite a reputation for redeeming good things out of bad situations. The Lord’s great love for us is powerful enough to transform any situation. From the terrible choice of Joseph’s brothers to sell him into slavery, God made provision for many nations during a time of famine (Genesis 45:4-8). From his rejection by the world, Jesus was established as cornerstone of God’s reign on earth (Matthew 21:42). From the persecution of the early church, God accomplished the spread of the gospel (Acts 8:1-4). In my own life, out of the challenges of a difficult job search, God blessed me with the words and insights for this book.

I had been in the job hunt for a while and was frustrated that things weren’t moving faster. My mother, who loves devotional books and often gives them as gifts, mentioned that she had been looking unsuccessfully for a devotional that would be helpful for someone searching for a job. She joked that I should write one. I laughed at the time, but the Lord must have used her comment to plant a seed in my mind, because after that I began to see God’s hand everywhere in my search. Not that I suddenly found a job— I didn’t—but God sent me events and people to encourage me and help me see a bigger perspective. Somewhere along the way, it dawned on me that if I shifted my focus outward to perceive how the Lord could use this experience to bless others, I might find buried treasure.

The book of Proverbs says that “those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25, NLT). I began to see my obstacles as opportunities to help other people. Every time the Lord taught me something about my search, I asked myself, “Is this something that someone else could use?” I wrote these thoughts down, along with the Scripture verses that encouraged me. As I explored each new thought God laid on my heart, I began to think of the words as personal gifts from the Lord to me, gifts that one day I could give to bless someone else. Years later that has come true.

The principle at work here is at the heart of many clichés: rain makes the flowers grow; when life gives you lemons, make lemonade; every cloud has a silver lining. In Matthew 12:35, Jesus says, “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart” (nlt). With Christ inside you, you have all the good you need to create something meaningful from your situation. Ask God how your challenge can serve others. Maybe this is an opportunity to volunteer your time and talents or invest in neglected relationships. Maybe God is fortifying you to be someone’s mentor or career counselor—take good notes! Pray for eyes to see where the Lord has hidden treasure for you; then listen for what God would have you do in response.

One Small Step for Today

Want a fun way to identify the most important aspects of your job search? Open your electronic résumé and copy the descriptive part (not the personal data) into free online “word cloud” software, such as Wordle or TagCloud. These programs create a visual picture of your information based on how frequently words appear. Do the largest words match the job descriptions you are considering? Are they the skills you want to use? If not, consider modifying your résumé to integrate words that reflect who you are and what is most important to you.

Aaron M. Basko is Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management at Salisbury University in Maryland, where he oversees Career Services, Admissions, and Financial Aid. He has also served as a university instructor for Personal Career Management. Aaron speaks for schools, homeschool groups, churches, and the media, and has written for a number of higher education and career-oriented publications. Visit his website at www.aaronbasko.com.

Publication date: April 16, 2013