A friend sent an email asking a question that many people have wondered about when facing big decisions. At the moment he is looking for a job, having been laid off as a result of the recession. After many years building a fine career in his chosen field, he now stands at a crossroads. Here is part of what he wrote, with some of the identifying details slightly altered:
I am in a bit of a spiritual quandary. I am blessed to have a couple of interviews for fairly senior positions, but the job I have real passion for is with the Tupelo Titans pro football team. I have had several interviews with them but they are moving so slowly, while the other jobs are coming to closure. I have a final interview in a few days for a position with a high-tech company.
Not sure why God has this door still open but I know that here are times when he will take me where I don't want to go and I have to walk the walk of faith....The conflict arises when, for whatever reason, this job with the Titans just won't go away....It is a perfect fit for me and a job where I can get up every day and be excited to go to work. I don't want to be unfaithful, but I really want to petition God about the Titans job, even though I feel like I may be acting with a very ungrateful spirit about this other position which will help us pay our bills and keep the house.
God knows that I love him with all my heart and soul and desire to walk in his will for my life , wherever he leads. So am I being unfaithful by petitioning him for the job I really want?
Here is my answer:
You are certainly not being unfaithful in asking the Lord for the Titans job. I can see the fit in so many ways. Perfect, really. And who knows what the Lord has in store? Better not to try to outguess the Almighty. We never win that one. The only way to navigate through this uncertainty is to take it one step and one decision at a time.
But remember this. 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love and power and of a "sound mind" (KJV). One version says that God has given us a "calm and well-balanced mind" (AMP), meaning that already you have everything you need from the Lord to make a good decision. Who knows but that the high-tech job might be just what you need at this point in your career? That's not my way of saying take it. No, I'd rather see you with the Titans too. But maybe the Lord has a third or fourth or fifth choice out there that would be ever better.
Trust the Lord to give you the wisdom you need in the interview and a spirit of discernment to figure out where you really fit. Remember Bobby Richardson's famous prayer: "O Lord, your will be done. Nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. Amen." Sounds like the right prayer for a moment like this.
God already knows you want the Titans job. It's not like he's in heaven going, "What? He wanted to work for the Titans? I had no idea." Doesn't work that way. Go ahead and pray for the job you think is right. But pray Bobby Richardson's prayer too. And then trust God to work through all the circumstances to lead you exactly where he wants you to be. I'll be praying with you for wisdom and calm confidence in these next few days.
What else would you like to add?
You can reach the author at ray@keepbelieving.com. Click here to sign up for the free weekly email sermon.