Finding our God-given employment
Working in the field of human resources for over ten years, I had many occasions to prove that each of us is God’s idea, or image, and as such we are complete, expressing the infinite spiritual capacities and qualities of God. Because we are “God’s masterpieces,” so to speak—expressing His own perfection—we’re able to develop and employ our individual, spiritually based talents and abilities. Just as with Daniel, who survived even Nebuchadnezzar’s den of lions, God has endowed each of us with “an excellent spirit” as well, has formed us “to do of his good pleasure” in order to fulfill His purpose (Daniel 6:16; Philippians 2:13). To me, the idea of employment is summed up in Christ Jesus’ statement: “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49).
God’s ideas are not subject to a fluctuating or variable economy. The only reality is the divine economy which is governed by God, whose law harmonizes and corrects every imbalance.
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We can take comfort that we don’t have to struggle to find our place in a right career. As Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, tells us, God alone “guides every event of our careers” (Unity of Good, pp. 3–4). We can trust that no one else can fill our divinely established place or purpose and that there is no lack of opportunity to employ the talents God has bestowed. God knows no under-qualified candidates either. Each one is divinely qualified to fill the position that God has already prepared for us; as Christ Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2).
God’s ideas are not subject to a fluctuating or variable economy. The only reality is the divine economy, which is governed by God, whose law maintains harmony and balance, in which every idea of God is needed and fully useful, active, and provided for. In human experience, the law of God ensures that the supply of talented individuals is adequate to meet the market demand, and, conversely, that the supply of opportunities will match the candidates available to meet the need. God’s infinite supply corresponds to the demand.
These laws are always available to meet a wide variety of employment challenges. I grew to appreciate the reliability of these laws in every hiring in which I was involved, to the point where I could see God’s hand unfolding and developing the talents of those hired, as well as those who were moving on to new adventures.
We can trust that no one else can fill our divinely established place or purpose and that there is no lack of opportunity to employ the talents God has bestowed.
I had my own proof of God’s guidance and care when I graduated from college and was praying to discover what my Father had for me to do. The answer to my prayer was to go to the local unemployment office. Obediently, I went and the employment counselor immediately asked who sent me. I asked what she meant by that question. The counselor told me she had been trying for a long time to fill a particular position and thought I would be perfect. I had to trust God, because when the counselor explained the position was for a statistical analyst, I realized that was not a position for which I would have applied. But since God had sent me, I decided to trust His direction completely.
I started and finished that analyst job very quickly, and it in turn opened the door for my career in human resources. The most valuable lesson for me came from trusting God; I learned that when we have faith and trust in God, we find new opportunities to develop and employ our talents. When we pray with an expectancy that God will supply our need, we see God’s plan unfold. And God’s plan is always better than anything we could ever imagine.