There are seasons in life when we need fresh reminders of things we already know but haven’t fully contemplated in a while. This is particularly true when it comes to the biblical truths of work that we value at IFWE.
In the midst of our daily routines—especially during seasons of stress or monotony—it’s easy to lose sight of what makes our work meaningful, and even beautiful.
As an adjunct instructor at a local university, I’m reminded of this every semester. Even though I’m intimately familiar with the material I teach, my students bring new, thoughtful, and sometimes unexpected questions that challenge me to see familiar concepts in a fresh way.
I was once asked how I could teach the same subjects over and over again without getting bored, and I answered that it may be old material for me, but it’s new for the students every time and when I pause to see the material through their eyes, it’s new again for me too.
The same is true when we engage with young adults who are stepping into the workforce and wrestling with how faith shapes their calling. Their curiosity, insights, and enthusiasm can reignite our own understanding of work as a God-given gift.
With that in mind, we wanted to share some insights from recent participants in the Chattanooga Fellows Program, part of The Fellows Initiative, an experience that “equips recent college graduates to faithfully find their vocation, commit to community, explore their faith, and practice civic responsibility.” These young professionals are engaging with the ideas of faith, work, and vocation in a new way, and their reflections serve as a reminder of the truths we value but can easily lose sight of.
We hope their perspectives offer you fresh encouragement and renewed inspiration in your own work.
The Value of Work
Robert Randolph, “God’s Work and Me”
I always hated the idea of work, especially having to work hard for someone else’s gain. Even the idea of doing it all for myself seemed to dissatisfy me. I saw work only as a way to make a living; a way to provide shelter, food, and comfort to myself. [Reading the book] Practicing the King’s Economy has helped me realize that work is not merely a way to survive, but a way to create with the Lord. I get to work with Jesus every day to bring about a better world for all those around me. Looking forward, I can see more clearly God’s beautiful design for work and the way it elevates the people around us.
The Need for Rest
Henry Keating, “Sabbath: A Gift and a Challenge”
In a world that values productivity and constant activity, taking time to pause and rest feels counterintuitive. Yet, it’s in this space of rest that I’ve learned so much about what it means to follow Christ. … In the remembrance of the Sabbath, we orient our week around it, separating it and making it distinct from our “normal life.” In doing so, we recognize the beautiful restriction of ourselves to keep the Sabbath. … The Sabbath has become more than a day off; it’s become a way of experiencing a taste of who I will one day be in Christ. My identity isn’t shaped by what I do, but by the rest and peace Christ offers me in the quiet moments of surrender on His Sabbath.
The Importance of Community & Connection
Gianna Spada, “Swimming Against the Current”
The phrase I heard most often throughout my senior year of college was, “No one told me just how hard post-grad life would be” and “The year after college was the worst year of my life.” … Almost everyone I heard from, even Christians, expressed the pains of the perpetual loneliness they felt after college. And that was my fear. … Entering this year as a Fellow, I was faced with the truth that loneliness happens not just because we don’t interact with people, but that true loneliness arises when we are not known. Since being in Chattanooga, I have experienced firsthand the joys, challenges, and rewards of fighting for covenant friendship and seeking to know others and be known.
Finding Meaning in the Menial
Katie Abbott, “Embracing the Unexpected”
The work I’ve been doing is not the work I expected when I joined the program. Instead of using my pre-med degree in direct patient care, I am working as a receptionist at a medical clinic. I have jealously watched fellows in other cities work as medical assistants as I file papers. I’ve felt like a failure and looked down upon my current calling, letting it completely define my identity. Something about my view of work was leading me to miss the dignity and redemptive power of this calling, to miss the beauty that all work matters to God. … Through my current job placement, the Lord has refined my passion to meet people in their lowest places. Though I may not be currently providing them medical care, I am the first face they see that greets them, letting them know they are welcome and seen. I now embrace the opportunity where the Lord has planted me, even if it is not what I expected. I once determined my worth based on success; however, God’s metric is not success but faithfulness.
