The most important aspect of any job search is faith:
1) Faith in God
2) Faith in your ability to execute the talents and knowledge given to you by God
3) Faith in yourself
What is the logic behind faith?
God has given us the following instruction in the form of promises throughout the Bible. Each promise comes with a benefit, but each promise also comes with a condition.
When performing a job search, I like to follow these promises:
1) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all of your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
The benefit to this promise is that God will direct your path. The condition is that you trust God, submit to Him all of your ways, and do not depend on your own understanding.
The next promise refers to your own internal peace, which is always beneficial when searching for a job.
2) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
The benefit to this promise is internal peace, regardless of the situation that may be raging all around you. This promise will help you to remain calm and assured. When you have internal peace, your anxiety level drops and you do not worry. Worry solves nothing. God also promises to guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. The condition to this promise is that you pray to Him and thank Him, surrendering whatever situation is in your life. Just give that situation to Him, so that He can work things out.
The next promise refers to your level of confidence. I do not know how well your interviewing skills are or what kind of a situation you are in. But I do know how to raise your confidence level. It goes like this:
3) I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
The benefit is confidence to do whatever it is that you must do. The condition is that you believe in Him (Jesus Christ) to help you accomplish your task.
The fourth promise guarantees you that everything will be okay, even it if does not look good in the moment, or even if things look especially bleak. This promise goes like this:
4) 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. Romans 8:28 (NIV)
The benefit is that everything will work out. The condition is that you love the Lord.
These promises are so simple that some may find them hard to believe. But just because they are simple does not mean they are trite. These promises work. I know first-hand because I have used them my entire career, even very recently.
I was unfairly terminated from a job where I earned a six-figure salary that I held for 4.25 years in the Fall of 2012. My mother passed away later the same week. Things looked pretty bleak and dark for me. But I claimed these promises, and 5+ years later, I am in a much better place than I ever was for my previous employer. It has not all been a bed of roses, but as the promise of Romans 8:28 goes, “God works for the good of those that love Him.”
Faith in God is all about a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. To enter in to a relationship with Jesus and begin placing your faith in God, Google the following verses:
Romans 3:10 & Romans 3:23
These verses shows us that man is not basically good like most people think. We may have good intentions, but everyone has sinned at one time in their life.
Romans 6:23
If we continue going down our own path, the result is not good.
Romans 5:8
Even though we have all messed up, God is not mad at us. He demonstrates how He love us in this verse.
Romans 10:9
This verse tells you how you can begin this relationship with Jesus, and place your faith in Him, which is also the first critical action in any job search.
Once you have entered into a relationship with Jesus, a fifth promise is available to you:
5) And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
The benefit is having our needs met. That does not mean all of our wants or what we covet materially. But if you need a job, God will meet your need. The condition is that you believe in Jesus to meet your need.
If you followed these steps, a job, as major as it seems, is really only a very small step in God’s plan for your life. You will be absolutely amazed at how the rest of your life will unfold.
