Tuning in to God’s GPS

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re in the right job, you’re not alone. I’d been searching for “the right job” for years. Since graduating from college, I have had more than 10 jobs, on and off. These include:

• A teaching stint at three exclusive Philippine educational institutions
• A DJ job at two bottom-of-the-barrel radio stations
• Heading an office responsible for the marketing and communications of a prestigious tertiary institution
• Teaching speed-reading
• Being part of a vocal group turned show band
• Managing a team of Internet writers
• Search engine marketing
• Freelance writing and graphic design
• Public relations
• Multilevel marketing

If my life were compared to driving a car, in ten years, I’d driven around and never really known where I was headed. I was just moving along, searching for that right fit, that perfect place where I could feel fulfilled yet challenged, motivated yet hungry, appreciated yet driven to do better, and, because I have a relationship with Someone who exchanged His life for mine, honoring Him with excellence in every area of my life.

For ten years, I didn’t find “the perfect job.”

For instance, I thought the perfect job for me was in public relations. Barely two weeks into the job, the schedule, the workload, and the interpersonal relationships at that place made me crumble like an overbaked cookie and sent me crawling back to my old job.

Another time, I thought the perfect job would be in media and entertainment. I went to an improv workshop and came out feeling inadequate and unfunny; I had set cards made and have yet to receive a callback from any of the casting calls I’ve attended.

Yet another time, I thought the perfect job would be in teaching. I received excellent remarks from students and fellow faculty, but people talking about me behind my back left me constantly paranoid and second-guessing myself.

And yet another time, I thought the perfect job for me was in publishing. I thought I heard from God back then – oh, the agony of pride! – and I started a company to publish Christian materials, but I knew nothing about managing a business the way it should be managed. It was a painful lesson, especially in the areas of finance and humility. I was crushed.

After ten years of searching, you’d think I’d have just thrown in the towel and settled for any old job that would pay the bills. Why search for “the perfect job” anyway? Why not just take in any job that pays you well and doesn’t require you to sell your soul to the devil or your body to that lady giving you the evil eye?

Luckily, God’s GPS – God’s Positioning System came – through for me. God’s direction was always there; I was just ignoring the instructions and steering my car in the direction I wanted. When I finally aligned my line of vision with God’s GPS, giving him the opportunity to steer, wow, the places to which he took me!

God’s GPS came through for me right on time. Exactly one year ago today, I was arguably in the worst funk of my life. My brother had died less than a week ago, and my one of my best friends would die the very next day (February 25, the day before my birthday). I came into a new job feeling sorry for myself yet strangely excited because this was a new chapter in my career. I believe those ten years spent doing all those other things to prepare me for this job.

If there are any among you who can identify with me, take heart. If you don’t think you’re where God intends you to be, look at it from this perspective: what you learn now can be extremely helpful for you in the future, when GPS directs you to where you can be of the most service to Him and others, and where you can be truly happy. True happiness, however, will not come from a job. It comes from the fulfillment of knowing you are in the right place, at the right time, for the right purpose. In my opinion, I think that’s why it’s so important to see your career as “vocation-driven,” not “job-driven.” If you focus on vocation, not occupation, the day-to-day work becomes part of a “bigger picture” perspective, and the drive to succeed becomes stronger as you work on making a large-scale impact.

I am happy where I am because I know God has His reasons for putting me here. It’s not a perfect job – God knows it! – but I’m at this place where I know He is honored because it’s my vocation to do this. If you focus on what If you’re not at your dream job yet, what’s stopping you from believing God will take you there someday? I am living proof that it is possible, in His perfect timing, according to His perfect will, to get to your dream job. It may take ten weeks, ten months, or in my case, ten years, but it is possible. So get dreaming and let the GPS lead you there.