This past year has been the most beautiful year for inward evaluation and self-reflection. I’ve experienced some of the worst pain and gained some incredible revelation of who I am. I’ve wrestled with knowing my strengths and revealing my weaknesses. Most importantly, however, I’ve been able to look at my life and genuinely care about what I wanted, not what others wanted (or what I perceived they wanted).
One of the things I’ve learned in these self-evaluations is that I often overstay my welcome at places I serve. I’ve been blessed with some of the most outstanding companies to work for and non-profits to volunteer with. They’ve allowed me to learn, travel, laugh, teach, and so much more. But one thing I’ve wrestled with is leaving when it’s time.
At one job, I knew two months before I left that it was time to go. However, I let fear and pride cloud my judgment. I had no clue what to do after it and hated the idea of breaking my commitment to the company. As time passed, I got more frustrated with how things were, ultimately driving a sit down with the team and me leaving for a different job.
With my most recent job, I knew after the third day. As days went on, my anxiety skyrocketed, my questions increased to get a better understanding, and I just dug my heels in to learn. I thought, “A good person doesn’t write off a company immediately; that’s not prudent.” I recognize that it’s not prudent to leave a job without another lined up, but is it worth hurting yourself or others? Especially if you feel it’s a God thing leading you away?
During my second week, I would head to my car and cry tears of frustration during Lunch. I was trapped. I knew it wasn’t a good fit, but I was also scared that I didn’t know what I wanted to do as a career. Thankfully, I was asked to a meeting with management and was able to hand in my resignation.
So why am I writing this? To help you listen to God’s best for you. I knew I was supposed to join the national guard for over a year, but It wasn’t in my “career” path, and quite frankly, I was scared of failing. So I ignored that and decided to follow the Jonah route…bad idea.
I’m also writing to encourage you to be wise and listen. Don’t make rash decisions about work, but don’t stay longer than you should. More often than not, this will end up hurting you and the people around you… and nobody wants that. Just remember… there is a time and season for everything ( Ecc. 3:1) and a time to get, lose, keep, and throw away. (Ecc. 3:6). Know when you’re in with your job, ministry, or volunteer work.