I was once promised a pay rise at work. I had been given a new role and I was told that there would be a pay review after 6 months. When the time came for the pay review, it didn't happen. I was told it would happen in another 6 months. Again, I waited, and no pay review. I was frustrated, angry, disappointed, and felt like I was being used. But I chose to trust that God had a plan for my life, and that included my career, so I carried on doing my job to the best of my ability. I no longer worried about whether I would get a pay review or not. When I finally left that job, I ended up in a much better job with a better pay package. My experience in the two years I waited for a pay review no doubt helped me get the job God had in store for me.

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It's obviously nice when you know how the story ends, but how can you remain faithful at work when you're waiting for something like a pay review, or a promotion or perhaps even a new job opportunity to come along? Here are 3 tips that have helped me along the way.

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1. See God as your employer and continue to work hard. Colossians 3 verse 23 says, ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.’ I know how difficult it can be to keep giving your best when you're not motivated and feel unappreciated. But, working as though you are working for the Lord literally means to see God as your employer, and not any man or woman. When you do this, you won't worry about whether or not people give you credit where you deserve it, or say thank you for a job well done. You know that God who sees your work will reward you in due season. Remember that we're serving God even in our secular workplaces so we must not grow weary in doing good, for we know that we will reap a harvest in due course. The other thing about continuing to work hard is that it won't go unnoticed by your colleagues and employers. Even if they still don't give you what you're waiting for, you will at least be setting an example and in doing so, bring glory to God. 

 

2. Be thankful. You may not feel like it but the truth is that you have a job, and that is something to be thankful about! If you've ever lost a job, been made redundant or being out of employment for even a few months, you'll know how precious it is to have a job. Having a job not only pays the bills but gives you independence, purpose and a reason to get out of bed every morning. And it's easy to forget this when you're going through a difficult time in your workplace. Thank God for the job that you have, even if you don't like it, and thank Him for the relationships you've formed, the opportunities He has given you to be a witness at work, as well as all that you're learning whilst in that workplace. When you focus on the good things about your job, the not so good don't take up so much space in your mind. 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 18 says ‘be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus’.

 

3. See your job as a season in your life. Life is made up of seasons, and there is always something to be learnt in each season. Some seasons are there to stretch us and make us grow, and they can be very challenging. But these are usually the times that prepare us for the next season where we can apply what we have learned. One of the reasons I was able to cope in those difficult times in that previous job was because I knew I wouldn't be there forever. I knew that God would open a door to another job, or career opportunity, even though I didn't know when. So, I decided to make the most of the time I was in that role and I learnt as much as I could. I attended training programmes, managed projects, and worked towards meeting my targets. Even though I knew I would leave one day, I didn't switch off from the job. It would've been easy to switch off, but even after I finally handed in my resignation, I still carried on working as normal, so that in the end, no one could say anything negative about my work ethic, and I could carry all I had learned into the new place God was sending me. 

 

 

If we see God as our employer, remain thankful for our jobs and learn to recognise the season we're in, we will get the best out of our period of waiting. 

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