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Are you a Christian? Do you believe that God will provide? Do you know any Christian who is struggling to find a job? I know someone who is struggling right now and I have been there myself.

I have worked in places where I never mentioned that I was a Christian and that I didn’t tell people that I went to church on Sunday. That information could have cost me my job, or I would have missed some promotions. A comedian in England, Tracey Ullman, has published a video comedy skit about a Christian in a job interview. The joke isn’t very funny, but sometimes comedians make serious statements behind the laughter. Getting and keeping a job can be a problem for a Christian.

Most of my career work has been training people so they can qualify for employment, or getting them into schools where they could train for a job. At the same time, I had to get and keep my own job, and maybe get promoted. I also have good friends who work in HR and as career counsellors. I know that it’s a jungle out there, and Christians are usually the losers in political games. We just don’t have enough killer instinct.

It is very clear to me now, that God is my helper. I don’t remember any time when I sat around and did nothing and an invisible hand dropped good things on me. In my experience, God blesses my busyness.

So, for busy people who trust God and need an income, here is my advice:

• Worship God: A career can be a demanding thing, and some stressful jobs are not worth having. A good job will pay your bills so you can have a good life. Real satisfaction in life comes from our creator and not from our brilliant careers. Choose your God carefully: The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4)
• Don’t push for promotion: Promotion increases stress, and it must include a big pay raise, or it’s not worth the effort. I have received some big promotions, including the corner office with the big desk, and if I had a do-over, I would refuse most of them. We are naturally vain and conceited, with active egos: Let us not be ambitious for our own reputations [vainglory], for that only means making each other jealous. (Galatians 5:26)
• Do a little, know a lot: Did you ever feel like you were not appreciated at your job? Be glad when that happens. I have many friends who had no more skills to offer “imposter syndrome” and when they lost their jobs, they had nothing extra for the job market. Be really good at what you do, better than you need to be: Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank. (Proverbs 22: 29)
• Manage your money: So, how is your bank account doing? If we don’t manage our money, we become stressed out slaves to our employer, when maybe we should leave a job and find something better. I kept my old car for three more years once, and when I lost my job, I had the resources for retraining and for a slow and careful job search, without a car loan. Your money is important: Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever. (Proverbs 27:23)
• Maybe start a business: I don’t recommend quitting your secure job and committing your whole family to a radical new idea, but I do recommend a side business. Small things can grow into one big thing. I own a small business and it started, years ago, from some small things on the side. I believe God likes it when we build new things: Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it! … [and] Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see … (Zechariah 4: 7 and 10)

If you need employment, I hope you find something good for you, and soon. I also hope you come out of the between-jobs experience as a better person, someone who knows themselves better, and someone who is closer to God.