Is God Calling Me to Switch Careers?
By Vivian Bricker
Bible Reading
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Many people have a good idea of what they want to be after college. College prepares us for the workforce and equips us with everything we need in order to get hired. However, sometimes later in life, we want to change our career. This could be due to a change in leadership at the company where we are working or simply losing interest in the career.
If you are finding yourself in a position where you feel God is calling you to switch careers, rest in the peace that this can happen. There are times when God calls us away from the field we are currently working in and wants us to move to a new career. If you feel God is leading you to switch careers, it would be wise to listen to His call.
God knows what is best for us and it is good to include Him in all of our decisions. Even if we might not understand God’s direction at the time, we can trust in His goodness. He will never lead us into a bad situation. If you are afraid of leaving your current job, leave space for this fear, but also allow yourself to think about the beautiful things God has in store for you.
If you are not sure God is calling you to change careers, go to Him in prayer. God hears and listens to every prayer. When you pray to Him, ask Him for His guidance and instructions. He will answer and make His paths known to you.
Be specific in your prayers and do not be afraid to pray big prayers. If you are specifically asking God about a career change, ask Him clearly. By praying to God, you will be acknowledging your dependence on Him. God is ultimately in control and the more we depend on Him, the safer and calmer we will feel. We can trust God because He is fully reliable, faithful, and trustworthy. Take your prayers to Him today and ask Him to reveal His plans for your life.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
The best way to clearly understand God’s will and directions is by listening to Him through His Word. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
It is important for us to trust in God and lean on Him rather than our own understanding. In all our ways, we need to submit to Him and He will make our paths straight. These simple instructions from Proverbs 3:5-6 are applicable to us when we are looking for a change of career and feeling as though God is leading this desire. If we submit our ways to God and we follow His instructions, our paths will be made smooth.
Focus on this truth and allow it to give your heart joy. God is going to make His will known to you. Continue to submit to Him, follow Him, and love Him. Choose to refrain from leaning on your own understanding and start leaning on God. Through studying the Bible, you will start seeing things as God sees them as well as you will understand His will better.
In addition to seeking out God through prayer and Bible study, we also need to communicate and seek out confirmation from trusted believers in our life. Trusted believers will be able to help us in many ways. For one, they can pray for us and second, they can provide us with immeasurable advice, feedback, and suggestions. Schedule sometime this week to talk with a few trusted believers and listen to any thoughts they have about you changing careers.
It is good to look for trusted believers who will actually tell you their thoughts. You don't need to be surrounded by advisers who will only tell you what you want to hear. This is not helpful and it can actually be extremely detrimental. Instead, choose to enlist help from trusted believers who will be discerning and thoughtful as they help you navigate this major life change.
Some trusted believers might also feel God is leading you into a new career path; whereas, others might tell you this is not where God is leading. In other words, some might confirm your career change and others might tell you this is not a good move. Take special note of their thoughts and ponder each of them thoughtfully. Avoid starting arguments if they disagree with you.
Instead of arguing, ask them why they feel as though God is not calling you to a new career. They could provide you with needed advice from the Bible or recently revealed answered prayers in their own life. Listen to them and value their opinions even if they might be different from your own. Take their advice thoughtfully and allow it to form your final opinion.
“Dear Jesus, please give me guidance as to which career I should switch to. I want to glorify You through my career change and ensure the call to change comes from You. Since I trust You with my salvation, I know I can also trust You with my career. Please give me direction, Lord. Amen.”
Challenge Questions:
- Is God calling me to a career change? If He is, where do I go from here?
- Is there anything holding me back from obeying God?
- Who is a trusted Christian I can ask for advice and clarity in this matter?
Photo Credit: Unsplash Saulo Mohana
Vivian Bricker loves Jesus, studying the Word of God, and helping others in their walk with Christ. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master's degree in Christian Ministry with a deep academic emphasis in theology. Her favorite things to do are spending time with her family and friends, reading, and spending time outside. When she is not writing, she is embarking on other adventures.
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