Returning After A Season Away

All of us have seasons where, if we are being completely honest with ourselves, we don't rely on God's strength, but our own. And it can be very difficult to look in the mirror and know that I could have handled things at work in a much better way than I did when I dealt with a difficult situation.

Isaiah 30 reminds us of a season where Israel refused to do what they knew was best and turned away from God's ways. And the verse which always jumps out at me to redirect me back to God is this one:

“You will be delivered by returning and resting; your strength will lie in quiet confidence. But you were not willing." (Isaiah 30:15 CSB)

Most often, the first line is what is quoted or seen on social media posts, but it's the second bolded line which shows the heart of the matter. Unwillingness is a symptom of rebellion, which humanity has been struggling with since the fall in Eden. And I don't think it started out with an all-in-one full turn away, but with a buildup of moments that kept them moving further from God with each failure to ask for His help.

There are five things which I believe can help us turn things around so our faith in action can remain on course in the workplace.

"Let them [the repentant] come back to God, who is merciful, come back to our God, who is lavish with forgiveness." (Isaiah 55:7 MSG)

1. REPENT - when we feel regret over our rebellious attitude or wrong doing, by bringing them in prayer to God with genuine sorrow, this is true repentance. When we repent, God is faithful to forgive us, and restore us.

"If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God." (Matthew 5:23-24 MSG)

2. RESTORE - when we have wronged someone we work with, it causes a separation between us, whether we sense it or not. Especially when we are business owners, store managers or team leads. When we have hurt a coworker's feelings or added to their stress when we didn't need to, we need to apologize to them by revealing we now know we handled things in the wrong way and ask their forgiveness. God requires us to humble ourselves to ask, and even if they do not forgive us, they will know you have admitted you were "in the wrong."

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.." (1 John 1:9 ESV)

3. RETURN - Now that we have asked both God and the person we wronged for forgiveness, we are able to return to our walk of faith with a clear conscience and a clean slate with God.

"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT)

4. REST - Now that we have turned towards God, asked for restoration of relationship with both Him and the person we hurt, we can rest afresh in His care for us. Bringing every concern to God before we act helps us to demonstrate His ways as we follow His lead.

"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26 NIV)

5. REMEMBER - last but not least, we can take these teachable moments from our past and remember them, asking God to remind us of His faithfulness, strength and care for us when we are having a rough day or facing a hard situation. The Holy Spirit will remind us what we need in our moments of need, so we keep focused on maintaining our relationships His way.

We are all invited to remain in Him, as part of His flock:

"Remain in Me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in Me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:4-9)

TAKING THIS TO GOD IN PRAYER

God, Your Words are sharper than a double edged sword and get straight to the heart of a matter when we invite You into it. In this case, my tendency to stray instead of remaining in You. I am sorry for the fallout in our relationship and those in my workplace when I respond without first asking for Your wisdom, guidance and discernment. I repent, and ask Your forgiveness. Restore me as only You can. Renew my spirit to seek You first. Rekindle the fire within me for Your Word, and to follow Your ways. Bring to mind the Words I need when I am in need of help, Holy Spirit. Thank You that You are always part of me, and willing to help me at any time and in every situation. In Jesus's Name, I pray. Amen.

May we be reassured by Your presence as we walk into our workplaces, knowing You are with us, strengthening us in Your power, and calming our emotions with Your love.

Blessings,

Karla, Christian Women at Work

Loving Kindness at Work: Dealing with Difficult People

One of the most stressful things about work is dealing with conflict, whether with a boss, colleague, or client. In her article in Harvard Business Review, September-October 2022, “How to Navigate Conflict with a Coworker,” Amy Gallo states that relationships were the top source of tension in a survey of 2000 American workers. Would you agree conflict is stressful?

Christians are definitely not immune to tensions in relationships. We also become hurt and agitated and often react in ways we later regret. An effective, professional and God-honoring strategy is crucial when dealing with toxic situations (or people).

In her article, Amy provides the following helpful tips we can use at work.

1. Remember your perspective is just one among many. We have different viewpoints and values, and it is unrealistic to expect everyone to see things the same way we do all the time. When we are confident about something, we find it hard to understand why others do not see it the same way. She advises that instead of taking time to debate who is correct, the focus should be on what should happen going forward.

This reminds me of how God wants us to listen carefully to others.

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. (James 1:19)

2. Be aware of your biases. These include fundamental attribution error (assuming another’s behaviour is more about their personality than the situation but believing the opposite of yourself), confirmation bias (interpreting events as proving the truth of existing beliefs), and affinity bias (an unconscious tendency to align with people who are similar to us). Amy suggests asking someone you trust, and who will tell you the truth, if you see a situation unfairly.

This reminds me of the importance of having many advisors.

For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisors. (Proverbs 11:14)

3. Do not make it “Me Against Them.” When disagreeing with someone, we sometimes think of “me vs. you,” or one person is difficult, the other is not, or one person is right, and the other is wrong. She encourages us to think there are three entities in the situation: you, your colleague, and the dynamic between you. That dynamic is about the decision needed to be made or a job to finish. She advises us to think of problematic coworkers as colleagues with whom we share a problem to be solved.

This reminds me of the importance of humility.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. (Philippians 2:3)

4. Know your goal. We need to be clear about our goals to avoid drama and stay focused. Amy advises us to list goals and circle the most important ones. These include finishing a project, building healthier work relationships, or feeling less stressed with interactions. Write down what you want to accomplish, as people who vividly describe their goals are likelier to achieve them.

This reminds me of the importance of remembering who we truly work for.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. (Colossians 3:23)

5. Avoid workplace venting and gossip – mostly. Amy states it is natural to turn to others when something is not right at work. However, she warns us to carefully choose who we speak to and what we share. We should look for constructive people who are comfortable challenging our perspective and can be discreet.

This reminds me that God has clearly told us not to gossip.

For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. (2 Corinthians 12:20)

6. Experiment to find what works. There is no particular right way to deal with a conflict situation or person. Amy suggests thinking of two or three methods to test. She gives an example of wanting to improve communication with a difficult colleague and suggests that we ignore the person’s tone for two weeks and focus on understanding the message. We should not assume this approach will work but view it is an experiment. She encourages us to keep trying different things.

This reminds me of the importance of being patient when working through things.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Colossians 3:12)

7. Be and stay curious: Amy encourages us to “adopt a curious mindset and maintain hope that your troubled relationship can be improved.” She states that curiosity wards off confirmation bias, prevents stereotyping, and helps us approach difficult situations creatively instead of aggressively and defensively. Curiosity may “snap us out of a mindset that keeps us from discovering an unexpected solution.”

This reminds me of the importance of trusting the Lord.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Amy states these strategies increase our odds of improving a situation. However, she cautions us that sometimes change is not possible, and we need to “cut our losses” and focus on protecting our careers and well-being. She ends the article encouragingly stating, “I have found that with good-faith efforts and hard work, even some of the trickiest interpersonal conflicts can be resolved.”

Taking This to God in Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, we are imperfect people and we are thankful You guide us through Your Word. Thank You also for practical suggestions we can learn from others which we can apply in the workplace. Helps us always to review all suggestions and advice through the lens of Your Word so we can honor You in what we do and say at work. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I pray that you enjoy these helpful tips on dealing with conflict at work.

Have a wonderful week!

Bonny, Christian Women at Work

Walking Out Who We Are Meant To Be At Work - BE STILL

"Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10 NIV)

In the middle of the hustle and bustle of life as Christian women at work, it can be hard to catch your breath or keep your stress levels down, especially when the unexpected happens or you are in an unusually busy season.

I have found that the days where I start off being still before God in a time of reflecting on His Promises, resting in His Presence, and quietly listening for His promptings are the days where my faith is best put into action at work.

As we take a closer look at Psalm 46, we see a few clues as to why we should be still and know that He is God.

1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam, and the mountains quake with their surging.

We see in the 3 verses above that when we choose God to be our refuge and strength, and turn to Him when we face trouble, we will not fear no matter what is happening about us.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fail. God will help her at break of day.

God is not only with His city but lives it alongside those who inhabit it, and the verse above reconfirms what we saw in verse one that God will always be her rescuer.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall. He lifts His voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the Lord has done; the desolations He has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields with fire.

We see in verses 6-9 that God is actively at work among the nations, speaking mightily, causing wars to end as only He can by breaking the weaponry and bypassing the defenses of the enemy being faced. Throughout the history of Israel, we see God come to the defense of His people over and over again in some pretty amazing ways!

10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

And we end Psalm 46 with verses 10 & 22 which remind us that based on everything we have just read, God has not changed. He is still God, He will be exalted across the world, and He is always with us. So we can be still and rest in that knowledge, and in the safety we experience in His Presence as His daughters.

So how does that translate into our busy days in the workplace?

1. Reflect on His Promises - as we did in Psalm 46 today, spend time reading the Word and believing the same God who protects and provides for His children is the same today as He was yesterday, and will be tomorrow.

Make a list of the Promises which speak the most to you in this season. Keep it in the front cover of your Bible or your notebook, and refer to it every day, but intentionally do so during the more stressful seasons you are going through. This will remind you how He is consistent no matter what!

2. Rest in His Presence - after reviewing His Word, spend some time just being with God. Sometimes I will put on a quiet worship song, and rest in those moments. Not looking at what is ahead for the day, but at the God whom I am spending time with right now.

Make sure you are including this important time to just be with God when you are planning your quiet time. This can be hard for someone to get become accustomed to, so if you have never tried doing this before, begin with 5 minutes.

3. Quietly Listen for His Promptings - then bring your requests to God - your worries or concerns about the day ahead or your family/friends/staff. Once you have done that, pause to hear His voice in response.

Consider writing out your prayers and leave space under each request to write what You hear God speaking to you about it. This will also help build up your faith as you put a record together of your conversation with God.

Bringing This to God in Prayer:

God, help me to look to You first each day before I begin tackling my to do list. I want to learn to be still in Your Presence, become more grounded in my faith, and hear Your voice more clearly. May I rest in You no matter what I am facing, knowing that You are for me, with me, and my place of refuge when things are stressful. In Jesus' name, Amen.

May I walk out this concept of being still as a woman of faith in the workplace as I grow closer to You, God, and become a better worker in my workplace.

Karla Lees,

Christian Women at Work