Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In every company, people come and people go.
Resignation is a common sight in almost every workplace. People leave for many reasons. They do not like their boss. They dislike the working environment. They feel unappreciated. They find another company offering a higher salary. They want better opportunities. Or perhaps they simply feel that it is time to move on.
On the surface, it seems very simple:
Find a new job. Tender your resignation. Serve your notice. Move on.
But is it really that simple for a believer?
I believe we need to look at our careers differently.
There Are No Coincidences with God
As believers, we believe that God is sovereign. Nothing happens outside His knowledge and His purposes.
Romans 8:28 reminds us:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
This does not mean that everything that happens is pleasant or that every difficult situation is directly caused by God.
But it does mean that God can use every situation for His purposes and for our growth.
So before we decide to leave a difficult workplace, perhaps we should pause and pray.
Instead of immediately asking:
“How can I get out of here?”
Perhaps we should first ask:
“Lord, why have You allowed me to be here?”
Perhaps God Is Teaching You Something
Did the Lord allow you to have a difficult boss because He is teaching you patience?
Perhaps that difficult boss is developing something in you that a comfortable boss never could.
James 1:2-4 says:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
Maybe your difficult boss is not the problem you need to escape from.
Maybe the difficult situation is the classroom God is using to teach you.
Perhaps the Lord has placed you in a workplace far away from home.
Instead of spending your morning commute scrolling through social media, could He be giving you an opportunity to spend that quiet time praying, reading His Word and listening to Him?
Perhaps your commute is not wasted time.
Perhaps it is God's appointment with you.
Maybe the Lord has placed you in challenging circumstances because He wants to stretch you beyond your current abilities.
Perhaps the difficult project is developing your leadership.
Perhaps the difficult colleague is teaching you how to love people who are different from you.
Perhaps the pressure is developing perseverance.
Perhaps the disappointment is teaching you not to find your identity in your job.
And perhaps the lack of recognition is teaching you to work for an audience of One.
Colossians 3:23-24 says:
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
What a powerful perspective!
We may work for our employer, but ultimately, we work for the Lord.
Before You Resign, Pray
I am not saying that every believer must remain in the same job regardless of circumstances.
There are legitimate reasons to leave a job. Sometimes God genuinely opens another door. Sometimes a season comes to an end. Sometimes a workplace is unhealthy or the responsibilities no longer align with what God is calling us to do.
But before we leave, perhaps we should pray.
Ask the Lord:
1. Why have You placed me in this position?
Why am I here?
What am I supposed to accomplish?
Who am I supposed to influence?
Who am I supposed to serve?
2. Is leaving really Your will?
Am I leaving because You are leading me?
Or am I simply running away because I am uncomfortable?
There is a big difference between being led by God and being driven by frustration.
3. What do You want me to learn from this season?
What character is God developing in me?
Patience?
Humility?
Perseverance?
Leadership?
Forgiveness?
Wisdom?
Contentment?
4. Have I completed what You sent me here to do?
This may be the most difficult question.
Perhaps we are asking God for permission to leave when He is still asking us to stay.
Maybe the lesson is not finished.
Maybe the assignment is not finished.
Maybe the mission is not finished.
Don't Job-Hop Without Seeking God
Today, changing jobs has become increasingly normal.
Some people change jobs almost as frequently as they visit shopping malls!
A slightly higher salary, a better title, a nicer office or a more attractive benefits package can be enough to make someone move.
There is nothing inherently wrong with pursuing better opportunities.
But as believers, salary should not be the only consideration.
The world may ask:
“How much more will I earn?”
A believer should also ask:
“Lord, where do You want me?”
The world may ask:
“Which company can give me the best career?”
A believer should ask:
“Which place can I best fulfil what You have called me to do?”
The world may ask:
“What is best for me?”
A steward asks:
“What is best for God's purposes?”
Our careers are not merely about earning an income.
They are part of our stewardship.
God gives us abilities, opportunities, relationships, influence and resources. Our responsibility is to use them faithfully.
I Experienced This Personally
I have personally experienced this.
There was a time when I wanted to leave a partnership.
From my perspective, it was time to go.
But as I prayed, I sensed strongly that my “mission” in that partnership was not yet completed.
So I stayed.
It was not necessarily the easiest decision. But I persisted.
About a year later, I eventually left—after I had done what I believed the Lord wanted me to do in that partnership.
Looking back, I am thankful that I did not leave simply because I wanted to.
I learned something important:
Sometimes the right time to leave is not when we are tired of staying. It is when God says the assignment is complete.
There is a difference.
Seek God's Wisdom
Proverbs 3:5-6 gives us a beautiful reminder:
“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.”
Our understanding is limited.
We see today's circumstances.
God sees the entire journey.
We see the difficult boss.
God sees the character He is developing in us.
We see the long commute.
God sees the quiet moments He may want to use.
We see the frustrating workplace.
God sees the people He may have placed around us for a reason.
We see a job.
God may see an assignment.
Before You Go, Ask
So, if you are thinking about resigning today, perhaps don't rush.
Pause.
Pray.
Seek God's wisdom.
Ask Him:
“Lord, why am I here?”
“What do You want me to learn?”
“Who do You want me to influence?”
“What do You want me to accomplish?”
“Is my work here finished?”
“Is it Your time for me to leave, or am I simply uncomfortable?”
And then wait upon Him.
Isaiah 30:21 says:
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”
May we never become so eager to leave that we leave before God has finished His work in us.
And when the time finally comes to move on, may we leave not with bitterness, resentment or regret, but with peace—knowing that we have completed the assignment God gave us.
Our careers belong to God too.
Let us therefore not merely pursue a successful career.
Let us pursue a faithful career—one in which our work, decisions, relationships and opportunities are surrendered to the Lord.
May the Lord bless you with a fruitful and joyful career, and may you always have the wisdom to know not only where to go, but when to stay.
Faithful stewardship is not about how much we have, but how faithfully we use what God has entrusted to us.
Blessings,
David Poh
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