“The pandemic has made people rethink their lives and their work,” declared a recent news article, one of many reporting on what’s now being called the Great Resignation.
Analysts point to a variety of reasons for the mismatch between the 8.4 million potential workers who are unemployed, and the record 10.9 million jobs open (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Some of these factors include: potential employees don’t have the skills employers are seeking, job-seekers are finding the available jobs to be undesirable, many are still concerned about health risks, parents have children at home who need care, employees are disengaged (Gallup), there’s increased desire for flexible jobs, and more.
Whatever the reason that’s leading to people re-thinking their lives and work in the wake of COVID-19, it’s undeniable that it’s happening. Employers and employees alike are frustrated. Nearly every business I’ve seen lately has “help wanted” signs in the windows, the supply chain is struggling, and it feels like nothing’s working quite like it used to.
Yet, I don’t think this reassessment of priorities is a bad thing. Pre-pandemic career trends tended toward glorifying busyness and encouraged wrapping up your identity in work in ways that are toxic to one’s soul. In that sense, I don’t want things to go back to that “normal.” Overall it seems like a blessing to be able to reassess our priorities after such a seismic shift in the culture and economy.
In this process of rethinking life and work in light of the pandemic, there’s a crucial piece of the thought process that should not be missed. Have you asked God what you should be doing? Do you know what God has called you to? Can you clearly articulate your life purpose? If not, you’re missing the most important ingredient in having a fulfilling life and meaningful work. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” But if you’re not listening to God, you won’t live up to your full potential as a masterpiece or a good worker in Christ.
To this end, we excited to share that at the end of October, Crossroads Career will have a new digital workbook designed to help you! Hear God Calling You: A Biblical and Practical Approach to Discerning Your Calling and Finding Career Fulfillment is debuting at what feels like a perfect time in light of these market trends.
At the end of October, Crossroads Career is debuting a new digital workbook designed to help you! Hear God Calling You: A Biblical and Practical Approach to Discerning Your Calling and Finding Career Fulfillment
For many years, our core resource has been the Crossroads Career Workbook, now called You Are Created for Good Works, which uses a 7-step process and plan designed to flesh out the “maximize your career and getting the right job” portion of the Crossroads’ mission statement, with resumes, networking, interviewing and employment resources. We are now excited to be providing an additional workbook, which is more exclusively dedicated to the complex yet vital aspect of hearing God calling. These workbooks are interrelated and designed to compliment each other.
In this new workbook, we’ll walk you through what it means to be close to God and hear His voice, what terms like “calling” and “purpose” mean, and what all that means for your career and calling. It outlines a process to follow and is full of practical and tactical exercises that ask you to think, reflect, engage, and act. Just like the first workbook, you can work through Hear God Calling You by yourself, with a coach or buddy, or with a small group. We hope that it will be a great tool to help you hear and follow God’s calling for your life.
In the rest of the blog posts for October, we’ll be giving you a few more sneak peeks into what you can expect from this new workbook, leading up to its release at the end of the month.
Laura Miller works for Crossroads Career as a writer and editor, and lives in the Kansas City area with her accountant husband. Laura hosts and produces The Library Laura Podcast, which is a weekly dose of book recommendations, library love, and literary enthusiasm. She also runs the Crossroads Career Podcast, with new episodes every two weeks to encourage you in your career journey. Previously, she worked in the insurance and retail industries.
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