We often view our careers as separate from our spiritual lives, but the truth is that our professional life is fertile ground for spiritual growth. Whenever we are given a responsibility that is beyond our ability, God uses it to help us grow. All growth starts with learning to rely on God and not ourselves.

We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. [9] In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.

2 Corinthians 1:8-9 NLT

If you are going to grow in your career, you will experience times that are uncomfortable, challenging, or feel like too much trouble. How you handle these situations is the key to your development.

I remember one such time where I felt crushed and overwhelmed was my second job after graduating as a Process Engineer for a nanotech startup in Emeryville. I joined the company arrogant as I came from success at my previous company. One of the main job responsibilities was to run a chemical process which required me to fasten a large glass tube for high temperature gas. If the tube was not positioned properly, it would crack and light the flammable gas on fire, plus each tube was $1k to replace and took time to manufacture. Everyday I was breaking one, which was a big deal. I felt pressure everyday to “get it” and came in trying to prove myself and was overwhelmed. I realized I needed help as this seemed beyond me and eventually decided to go on a prayer walk and desperately ask God for help. I remember during that prayer, my attitude changed, started to let down and trust that God was going to work it out. Taking the time to pray calmed me down and put me in a place to learn instead of prove myself.  God used this experience as an opportunity to stop relying on myself and start relying on God. Once I was in this place, I excelled and learned many other areas which allowed me to grow in this position and in my career. Those kinds of prayer walks became part of my usual work routine that helped me face new challenges as they came. 

God has a great vision for us. He began a work in us from when we were young and he promises to not stop until we grow into who he knows we can be.

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 1:6 NLT

However, we have to do our part and have the faith to learn the spiritual lessons along the way. When we face challenges in college or our career, we need to decide to combine with faith and learn to turn to God in new ways. That is how God helps us to grow in all the other areas of our lives.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. [3] For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. [4] So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

James 1:2-4 NLT 

As we learn from this Scripture, troubles and challenges are opportunities for joy. They lead to a closer relationship with God and they are growth opportunities. I see in my life when I forget these truths and try to handle all the pressures of life, including in my career, I stay stagnant. I may be able to keep trains running on time, but I do not grow internally.

This devotional will explore how God uses our professional development to cultivate essential spiritual skills like a strong work ethic, gratitude, and diligence, preparing us for a life that is both successful and impactful.

1. When we grow in God Motivation, we grow in work ethic

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, [24] since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3:23-24 NIV

When we are motivated to please God and live by His purpose, we are motivated to work with excellence. When we recognize God in our daily life, it drives us to give our best. Working to please people can work in a limited way. Once someone is not impressed or is not paying attention, we can lose motivation. Or we will get to a place where we realize we cannot please everyone, so we quit trying. The motivation to please God in our careers will always lead to us motivated to work hard.

2. When we grow in God Awareness, we grow in gratitude

After graduation I worked at a flexible display startup which was exciting for me. After a while, I started to get really bored.  Although I was inspired by the product we were developing, my daily work of mixing chemicals felt anything but inspiring. It was around this time, I read the following Scripture and it changed my perspective.

Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. [19] And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life-this is indeed a gift from God. [20] God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 NLT

I realized that my job was never supposed to be what gives me joy. That comes from God and God had taught me that I was there for a purpose in the relationships I was able to build there. I started changing my perspective at work, looking to see what relationships God was allowing me to build to have impact. That increased my joy and thankfulness for being there and my day to day work.

3.  When we grow in faithfulness, we will grow in our diligence

Faithfulness is not a quality many want to focus on growing in order to advance their career, but it is a big deal if we want to grow.

If you’re faithful in small-scale matters, you’ll be faithful with far bigger responsibilities. If you’re crooked in small responsibilities, you’ll be no different in bigger things.

Luke 16:10 Voice

Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.

Proverbs 21:5 NLT

The Bible shows us that if we are faithful with the small, we will be faithful with more. That is because faithfulness comes from our heart regardless of the job or task. 

The definition of diligence is careful and persistent work or effort. To move forward in any career, diligence is needed. Diligence comes from a heart condition of faithfulness. We will treat small tasks with the same importance as large ones because faithfulness is a quality of heart.

4. When we grow in God Conviction, we develop new skills and opportunities

Daniel is a great example of someone who lived by conviction for God and it led to great success in his career and fulfilling God’s purpose for his life. I encourage you to read about him in the Bible yourself, but here are a few verses to note.

But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. [9] Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel.

Daniel 1:8-9 NLT

God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.

Daniel 1:17 NLT

We all want to advance in our careers and some are willing to compromise to get there. Daniel chose to live in obedience to God and his purpose for his life and because of that God developed new skills in him as well as fostered relationships that allowed him to get ahead. 

Questions for reflection

1. How has your spirituality affected the growth in your career and professional development?
2. What areas of your career have been challenging and showing you that you need to rely on God in new ways?
3. Which of the 4 qualities in the Scripture reflections do you want to work on to learn to rely on God in a new way?

Next steps for growth

Here are some practical tips and resources to support your spiritual journey as you develop professionally, in your discipline and work ethic.

• Pleasing God Bible Study – do a Bible study for yourself on pleasing God. Focus on 1 way you can please God each day.
• To Do list – Make a to do list and put even small things you can accomplish. Make sure you complete each with excellence.
• Read the book The Disciplined Life