Your Daily Bread – Is The Great Resignation Calling You? 

By Terry Frisk 

Covid has caused many of us to change the way we work. Some of us worked from home and met with others through virtual meetings. Many people could not work remotely and faced work disruptions as their employers were forced to shut down. People who were considered essential workers faced an increased workload and stress brought on by challenges in serving the needs of their employer. All this upheaval lead to people rethinking their career paths. As a result, a record number of people are leaving their jobs in what is being referred to as The Great Resignation. 

Television news network CNN reported 68.9 million Americans separated from their employer during 2021, 47.4 million of which were people who voluntarily quit their jobs. While some of those who quit were baby boomers who were retiring or parents opting to take care of their children instead of working, most were people seeking to improve their employment opportunities. 

God created us to work to serve Him by serving others. Just after creating Adam, God put him to work taking care of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15). Work gives us life filled with meaning and value. In Ecclesiastes we learn: 

“I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink and find satisfaction in all their toil – this is the gift of God.” (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13) 

God calls each of us to do the work we do. Regardless of your job title, He sees the value in your efforts. While we are serving our employer, we often forget that we are also serving our co-workers, the people who use the goods and services we produce, the vendors whose employees’ livelihoods depend on the purchases from our employer, our community that we support through our purchases and the ministries that we support through our giving. You are not only providing for yourself and your family, you are also serving God in the process. 

If you are one of the many Americans who are rethinking their current jobs, consider the following action steps: 

1. Is your current job God’s plan for you? The word vocation comes from Latin meaning “a calling.” It doesn’t matter whether you are a farmer, laborer, janitor, manager, or CEO, you are called to do the work you do. Your work is serving God by serving others. Your thoughts about changing jobs may be God nudging you in a new direction. Prayerfully consider what path God is calling you to follow.
2. Assess purpose driven work vs. high wages. Chasing after high wages is not fulfilling. I have been there, and I can tell you that achieving higher earnings is never enough. Once I listened to God, I found my calling in helping others succeed in business. This has been very rewarding and given me great satisfaction knowing that I have contributed to the success of the business and its employees. Seek purpose driven jobs that are meaningful to you while serving God.
3. Evaluate your natural skills. God has blessed each of us with unique skills and talents. I have always had an interest in numbers and their meaning. When I was young, I would graph my favorite baseball player’s statistics and follow their trends. So, it was natural for me to pursue a career in accounting. Consider your God-given talents and how you can apply them in the workplace.
4. Regard your work as an act of worship. Colossians 3:23 states, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” During the grind of the workday, it is sometimes difficult to recognize that the work you do is serving God. But, you are doing God’s work when you serve others. This is true if they are people you work for or people who work for you.
5. Appreciate the service others provide. I have heard many people who, in my view, have very purposeful jobs but feel they are not appreciated for the work they do. Take time to recognize the people who serve you. Raising them up will make a difference in how they feel about their work.  

Personally, I am on the path toward retirement from my professional career. However, this is not the end of my working life. God is calling me in a new direction. One that I am sure will be exciting and fulfilling. Is God calling you in a new direction? Seek answers through prayer. Take care and may God bless. 

Terry Frisk is a partner in the firm B2B CFO, providing financial advisory services to small businesses. He also counsels individuals on personal financial matters through the Cathedral of the Rockies Budget Counseling ministry. He may be contacted through e-mail at [email protected].