If you asked me what I wanted to do career-wise, I would answer, “I trust God will open the right door when it comes.” But what does that really entail?
For the past year, I had been on and off applying to random job listings, uncertain of what direction I wanted to take. But as we know, this approach doesn’t often work. Then, in June, things started lining up in my current role, and it felt like the right time to seriously consider looking elsewhere. I became more intentional about my job search and applications, and felt a natural pull towards a specific industry and position. It was not something I had ever considered before, but suddenly there seemed to be so many opportunities for this particular role.
I started moving forward with one company, making it to the first interview stage. The thing is, I didn’t really want the role. There were others with a higher salary, shorter commutes and greater potential for a wider scope. But I thought, why not give it a shot? At the very least, it would be good interview practice. On the day of the interview, I prayed, “God, shut the door if this is not the one, but if it is, then give me a sign,” and proceeded with the interview. It went well, but I didn’t expect too much.
The following day, I returned to work awaiting the results, when a senior colleague I hadn’t spoken to much suddenly asked me, “So, what are you doing career progression-wise?” No one knew I was interviewing elsewhere or even applying for jobs. That afternoon, my manager asked me, “What are you looking for to progress in your career?”. Looking back, I can see this wasn’t just a random coincidence. On my way home that day, I received a phone call informing me that I had made it to the final interview.
The next few days breezed past, and I was now at the final interview. And it did not go well. I was nervous and felt unprepared. My answers didn’t feel sufficient, and I was rocking in my chair throughout the interview. They said I would hear back within a couple of days, and I left feeling defeated.
The next few days passed, and I found myself sitting in anxiety and doubt. Not knowing when, or even if, they would contact me sent my mind into rabbit holes of feeling like I wasn’t good enough.
But along the way, I discovered a song that slowly became my prayer: Up to Something by ONE HOUSE and UPPERROOM:
“Not my will but Yours be done,
In the middle You’re still God,
You know better than I do,
I will put my trust in You.”
When this became my honest prayer, the anxiety eased. My mind became clearer, and I was no longer drowning in doubt because I knew I could trust God and His plan.
In the end, I got the job.
I received an offer four days after the interview and have now been working in the role for a month. Throughout the job hunt, the Lord was teaching me what it really means to trust Him in the process.
For so long, I would say that I fully trusted the Lord when it came to my career. But when I actually had to face the uncertainty, I turned to my own ability and became consumed by doubt and anxiety, even when He had so graciously shown me signs that this was His plan. God used this season to build my reliance on Him. Through the prompting to turn to Him in my anxiety and to worship in the midst of the unknown, He was there all along.
So I thank God for His providence, His patience and His kindness in answering me.
For those currently on the job hunt, I encourage you not to focus only on the end goal, but to look for what God is teaching you in the process.