Christians are called to live out their faith in every aspect of life—including the workplace—by praying regularly, maintaining a Christlike attitude, setting healthy boundaries, building support networks, and relying on Scripture to navigate challenges.
As Christians, we must live out our faith wherever we go—waiting in line at the grocery store, driving in our cars, and even in the workplace. This can be especially difficult sometimes, primarily when you work with a mix of believers and unbelievers.
The last traditional job I worked at was administrative support. Two other ladies and I worked in a room by ourselves, and all of us were Christians. We would share Bible verses, pray about our day, and have a great time together. However, we also worked with many non-believers. Working with our shared beliefs helped balance the mix of perspectives we worked around.
Still, you may wonder how we balance work and faith in the workplace. Here are some tips to help.
Understanding the Importance of Faith in the Workplace
Let’s first talk about why faith is important in the workplace. There are many reasons faith is important in the workplace.
-Implementing faith-based values in your workplace enhances workplace culture and employee morale.
Implementing faith-based principles increases job satisfaction and loyalty.
-Involving stakeholders in assessing values and aligning with faith-based principles benefits companies and organizations.
Setting Boundaries: Work-Life Balance Strategies
Working in a company without faith-based principles or with mixed beliefs can be very stressful. Here are some ways to keep things balanced.
-Lots and lots of prayer.
-Read your Bible and communicate with God daily.
-Exercise regularly.
-Get plenty of quality sleep.
-Eat healthy nutrition like fruits and veggies and steer clear of excessive amounts of sugar.
-Set clear work-life boundaries.
-Learn to say a firm “no.”
-Limit hours of overtime if possible.
-Discuss it with your supervisor if things get too much.
-Seek workplace accommodations (a quieter room, virtual mental health visits, etc.)
-Don’t skip breaks. Our work schedules include breaks for a reason. Our bodies and minds need a rest occasionally, even for only fifteen minutes.
-Practice mindfulness
-Identify stress triggers and seek to eliminate them.
-Develop coping strategies.
Incorporating Prayer and Reflection into Your Daily Routine
Prayer is essential in the workplace. Some days, it’s all that gets people through different workplace situations, from high-stress positions to toxic situations. Here are some good ways to incorporate prayer into your day.
-Start the day with an attitude of gratitude. A great time to do this is when you are in the shower in the morning or at least in the bathroom by yourself, uninterrupted.
Take a prayer walk on your lunch break. Go outside for a walk and pray. This could be around the grounds at your workplace or a nearby park.
-Pray before meals.
-Keep a prayer journal and write down when and how God answered your prayers.
-When driving home, reflect on your day. Pray about things that went wrong or have the potential to go bad, and give thanks for the things that went right.
-Practice breathing exercises. When you have a stressful situation, practice mindful breathing and pray silently. You can also do this on your break to help keep yourself centered and grounded during the day.
Reflect before bed. Go over your day in your head. Pray about the bad parts and be thankful for the good parts. I know I mentioned this earlier in reflecting on the drive home, but you can do this at either time: during your afternoon or evening commute or before bed.
Pray all day long—at your desk, in the bathroom, on lunch, on break, before a meeting, etc. Being connected to God all day makes you feel calmer and more at peace.
Living Your Faith Through Actions and Attitude
As Christians, it’s important to live out our faith through our attitudes and actions. There are many negative and toxic things going on in today’s workplace, so it’s especially important that we represent Christ in everything we do. This means…
Having a positive attitude- We are to have a positive attitude in everything we do, from our jobs to interacting with coworkers and bosses. We all have bad days and don’t feel like having a friendly attitude. We’re human. When this happens, ask God to help you.
Demonstrate love for all people a coworker out, do some extra work for your boss, practice tolerance with that one annoying coworker, and stand up for those who are different, who are being bullied or harassed at work.
Don’t act like your coworkers. This means no gossiping around the water cooler, in the break room, or anywhere else—no talking bad about your boss or coworkers. Do your job as if you are working for the Lord, not man.
Pray for your boss and coworkers about upcoming meetings and deadlines and anything else important.
Forgiveness: Things happen all the time in the workplace: arguments, misunderstandings, miscommunication. Show your faith in action by forgiving those who wronged you in the workplace. Does it mean you have to forget about a serious issue? No, but forgive the person first and then contact your boss or HR about the situation.
Be Honest and Truthful-Always be honest in the workplace. If you made a mistake, own it. Is something going on with a coworker that could be a serious issue for the company? Let someone know.
Building a Support Network: Finding Fellow Believers at Work
Being friends with fellow believers at work is essential for believers. Having a few Christian friends at work can bring comfort and peace and make things fun. You know someone has your back and will pray for you in different situations. But how do you find others with your beliefs at work?
-Attend networking events.
-Join professional groups.
-Initiate one-on-one meetings.
Start a conversation. If you see someone reading their Bible or a faith-based book, either fiction or non-fiction, start a conversation. Ask them what book of the Bible they are studying or if they would recommend the book they are reading. Keep it casual and let things gravitate naturally.
Look for signs. Christians usually display something about their faith in their cubicles. Where I live, you see a lot of ‘Jesus is Lord’ magnets on people’s desks, cars, etc. Someone may have decor with a favorite Bible verse or a magnet on their desk, like I previously mentioned, or wear a cross. Take these as cues to start a conversation, and once again, let things evolve.
Using Scripture for Guidance in Work Challenges
Scripture should always be a guide on how to handle challenges in the workplace. The verses below will help guide you as you navigate your job.
“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13, NLT)
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10, NLT)
“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” (James 1:5, NLT)
“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble and keep on praying.” (Romans 12:12, NLT)
“This is my command-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
Balancing work and faith can be challenging, but we will succeed if we live out our faith in action and rely on Scripture for guidance.
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