I just wanted to give a word of encouragement to everyone out there who hasn't found the right job or career yet--don't give up, and maybe something will actually find you if you keep on trying and are even willing to take a job you think is below you.
My father started in a small chain of grocery stores as a bagger when he was fifteen years old. He had no intentions of staying and was going to college for a business degree. But he stuck with it, and kept getting promoted, mostly because he was a hard worker and stayed at the job--sometimes he was moved up simply because everyone else had left in search of their own perfect jobs. He eventually went on to own two stores, though the smaller one was closed and they put all their efforts into expanding the larger store.
We didn't have much growing up, but we never starved, and while my Dad worked long hour, often six and seven days a week, I can't remember a time he didn't come home to have dinner with us, and not only was my Mom able to stay at home with us three kids, but my parents saved every penny they made and God blessed them so much that they were able to retire to their dream location by the age of 55. My uncle, by contrast, who has worked for a large, billion-dollar corporation for years, is still slaving away and not sure if or when retirement will be possible and could not even come home for Christmas this year because they had him working.
My Dad NEVER thought in a millions years he'd be "stuck at a grocery store" for 40 years, but just think, Moses herded sheep for 40 years (and he was raised as an Egyptian, who found shepherds to be detestable--in the eyes of the culture he was raised in, Moses was basically throwing away his education and royal privileges to do the social equivalent of cleaning toilets--sheep's toilets at that--as a career.)
Both of my brothers set out for big careers but one never even finished college (but wound up getting a job at a company with his computer skills, then eventually moved on to working for Microsoft.) He now works at Microsoft headquarters, had never finished his college degree, and accomplished all this before he was 30. My other brother started working at a Best Buy store, and like my Dad, just stayed there, worked hard, and kept finding himself promoted. He is now in charge of half the store, and is on track to becoming the manager of the entire store while finishing his business degree. Both are married with kids and my sisters-in-law are able to stay at home full-time with their kids.
I was in a Master's degree for psychology but God bumped me onto a different path... I now work in a grocery store that is part of the same chain my Dad was in (but it is not his store--people ask me all the time why I don't just take over his store but it's not in my heart. He has the talent to do it--I know I don't.) I love just being another regular employee (I worked at my Dad's store in high school and hated being "the boss's kid") and my job is something simple than anyone could do. But I work with wonderful people--our bosses help out all the employees whenever they can. Our store owner once personally came to get me when a teenage kid gunned his car straight into the side of my Jeep, and the other night our assistant manager was out in the freezing cold helping one of our cashiers pour brake fluid into her car. It's hard to find that kind of caring in the workplace nowadays.
I have also been able to watch two of my friends at work become Christians and join my home church, and now they bring their own family members as well.
No, I don't make much money (I joke with my parents that I'm the black sheep of the family because my brothers have done so well), but with God's great blessing and my parents' guidance and budgeting strategies (they are certified Christian financial counselors--my Dad is studying to be an ordained financial pastor), at 35, I am debt-free and own everything I have. I may one day go back to school or start another career path, but for right now, I couldn't be more surprised at what God has done in my life. Sure, there are days I hate things about my job like everyone else, but I'm very thankful for it. People ask me often why I "wasted my education", but to the contrary, I know God has me at this place of work for a reason.
You may not find the "right" job... but I encourage you to keep trying and don't give up. The life God has for you may actually find you "by accident!
My father started in a small chain of grocery stores as a bagger when he was fifteen years old. He had no intentions of staying and was going to college for a business degree. But he stuck with it, and kept getting promoted, mostly because he was a hard worker and stayed at the job--sometimes he was moved up simply because everyone else had left in search of their own perfect jobs. He eventually went on to own two stores, though the smaller one was closed and they put all their efforts into expanding the larger store.
We didn't have much growing up, but we never starved, and while my Dad worked long hour, often six and seven days a week, I can't remember a time he didn't come home to have dinner with us, and not only was my Mom able to stay at home with us three kids, but my parents saved every penny they made and God blessed them so much that they were able to retire to their dream location by the age of 55. My uncle, by contrast, who has worked for a large, billion-dollar corporation for years, is still slaving away and not sure if or when retirement will be possible and could not even come home for Christmas this year because they had him working.
My Dad NEVER thought in a millions years he'd be "stuck at a grocery store" for 40 years, but just think, Moses herded sheep for 40 years (and he was raised as an Egyptian, who found shepherds to be detestable--in the eyes of the culture he was raised in, Moses was basically throwing away his education and royal privileges to do the social equivalent of cleaning toilets--sheep's toilets at that--as a career.)
Both of my brothers set out for big careers but one never even finished college (but wound up getting a job at a company with his computer skills, then eventually moved on to working for Microsoft.) He now works at Microsoft headquarters, had never finished his college degree, and accomplished all this before he was 30. My other brother started working at a Best Buy store, and like my Dad, just stayed there, worked hard, and kept finding himself promoted. He is now in charge of half the store, and is on track to becoming the manager of the entire store while finishing his business degree. Both are married with kids and my sisters-in-law are able to stay at home full-time with their kids.
I was in a Master's degree for psychology but God bumped me onto a different path... I now work in a grocery store that is part of the same chain my Dad was in (but it is not his store--people ask me all the time why I don't just take over his store but it's not in my heart. He has the talent to do it--I know I don't.) I love just being another regular employee (I worked at my Dad's store in high school and hated being "the boss's kid") and my job is something simple than anyone could do. But I work with wonderful people--our bosses help out all the employees whenever they can. Our store owner once personally came to get me when a teenage kid gunned his car straight into the side of my Jeep, and the other night our assistant manager was out in the freezing cold helping one of our cashiers pour brake fluid into her car. It's hard to find that kind of caring in the workplace nowadays.
I have also been able to watch two of my friends at work become Christians and join my home church, and now they bring their own family members as well.
No, I don't make much money (I joke with my parents that I'm the black sheep of the family because my brothers have done so well), but with God's great blessing and my parents' guidance and budgeting strategies (they are certified Christian financial counselors--my Dad is studying to be an ordained financial pastor), at 35, I am debt-free and own everything I have. I may one day go back to school or start another career path, but for right now, I couldn't be more surprised at what God has done in my life. Sure, there are days I hate things about my job like everyone else, but I'm very thankful for it. People ask me often why I "wasted my education", but to the contrary, I know God has me at this place of work for a reason.
You may not find the "right" job... but I encourage you to keep trying and don't give up. The life God has for you may actually find you "by accident!
