Is Your Job Causing You Undue Stress? Breathe...And Read.

I make a concerted effort to read "The Word For You Today", that I received from my church, while I am at work every day.  It's one of the many perks that I am thankful to receive as I step through those doors hungry for something to soothe my soul.  The word gives me something to think about for the day, meditate on, and allows me to open my mind up for the wonderful possibilities that the day will offer knowing that it is by God's grace that I am alive to see another day.  However, it is becoming more and more difficult to do so... 

Recently, our team at work was downsized and now there are two of us--another girl and myself.  The workload on our shoulders has been tripled at times and it seems that the Devil has been on his stuff now more than ever.  Between the customers and the work environment in general, I could pull my hair out of my head and pull the skin from my face.  Sometimes, it's absolutely dreadful, but I realize that things could be worse.  I could not have a job, I could be homeless or running around like a chicken with my head cut off wracking my brains to figure out how on Earth I am going to pay my bills or what I am going to eat.  Thankfully, I am not in that position.  I have full use of my limbs and I am healthy.  I have a car that runs and I have a brain that fully functions which further propels me to search ardently for a position that will start off my career in writing. 

In the meantime, and in between time, I am thankful for what God has blessed me with.  Amazingly, I realize that even though I understand the reality of my situation, I more often than not find myself complaining about things from time to time.  I have gotten better on this level courtesy of "The Word For You Today."  Nevertheless, I desire to reach a level of maturity and acceptance where I will not just understand that this is a job and not my career...that there will also be someone at work who gets on my last nerve...a customer who is rude for no apparent reason...someone who no matter what you do they will never acknowledge your genius or the asset that you are to the company until you are gone...the supervisor who never says thank you or who doesn't like you...to a level where I actually implement this do not allow these things that are not conducive to my well-being to be an unnecessary issue.  No matter what the circumstances, as long as I am still getting a check and this is not my career, it is essential that I not let any job stress me out and cause me to go home upset or take it out on those that matter most to me (you know who I am talking to, and I apologize for that for real for real). 

All of that to say this, I'm sure that I am far from being alone on this boat.  However, yesterday's "The Word For You Today" read as follows:

Wednesday July 1

"Whatever You Do, Whether In Word Or Deed, Do It All In The Name Of The Lord Jesus."

Colossians 3:17 NIV

Work In Jesus' name

John Ortberg writes: "We all work.  We all create value--that's what work is.  But what would it look like for you to work in Jesus' name?  Well, first, work would become something you do together with Him.  You were not meant to work on your own.  So, tomorrow, take a moment at the beginning of your workday when you sit down at your desk or your computer or in your home, and invite Jesus to partner with you.  Tell Him, "Today, I'm not going to work by myself.'  Any time throughout your workday when you have a tough problem, ask Him for help.  When you have a difficult decision to make, ask Him for wisdom--the listen and be really open.  When you find your energy flagging, ask Him for renewed strength.  When you find your attitude turning negative, ask Him to re-orient your heart.  Put a symbol on your desk or wall where you can see it remind you that today you and Jesus are partnering together in your work.  Every few hours as you're working, pause for two or three minutes.  Thank Him for His help.  Hand Him your worries.  Ask for His energy.  Every moment is an opportunity to be with Jesus.  When you forget--and you will, when you mess up--and you will, remember this really important rule: there's to be no beating yourself up!  Every moment is another chance.  God just keeps sending them.  That's grace.  Every moment of your workday is a new chance for you to be with Him."

After reading this, l smiled and then laughed all day yesterday at the things that were going on around me that would have pissed me off and the customers I was talking to that would have otherwise unnerved me.  I didn't have it in me yesterday to let anything outside of my control get under my skin.  I laughed at it all--no lie--and said this is hilarious.  I'm not quite sure if yesterday was just the typical norm of having so much do and not enough of myself to go around, or if it was amplified by the Devil knowing that I had read the word and that I was going to have a go at working with Jesus and not trying to carry on my shoulder more than I need to.  I am barely 120 pounds...Jesus has much more strength than I as he has carried the weight of the sins of the world on his shoulders...the worries, situations, and whatever malevolent behaviors that are present at my job are a piece of cake for Him.  He has bigger fish that He fries on a daily basis...my concerns and daily work load is something that He can help me bear with His eyes closes.   When I read this I thought of the famous Footprints in the Sand poem.  Jesus is always there to carry me, even when I can only see one set of footprints...all I have to do is ask and it will be given to me, seek and I will find and knock and the door will be opened to me. 

I'm trying to beat the door down, so today I started it off with this prayer!!!!!!!