There’s Purpose to Your Work Problems
By Rick Warren
"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character." Romans 5:3-4 (TLB)
Have you ever had a problem at work? Of course you have. Everyone—no matter where they work or who they work with—has had some kind of trouble at some point in their job.
The Bible tells you what to do with that kind of trouble: "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character" (Romans 5:3-4 TLB).
God is far more interested in your character than he is in your comfort. He’s working to perfect you, not to pamper you. His goal in your life and in your work is not to make you comfortable; his goal is to help you grow up. And he uses problems in your life to grow your character.
When you have a problem at work, don’t ask God why you’re having that problem. Instead, ask God, “What do you want me to learn from this? What are you trying to teach me? What's my blind spot? What character issue needs to be worked on?”
And as you ask God, “What?” also remember this simple truth: While you're working on your job, God is working on you.
Sometimes temptation will be a problem for you at work—but God can use even temptations for your good! Many believers say they don't like working with unbelievers because those unbelievers bring more temptations. But that’s just not true. You’ll be tempted with believers just as much as with unbelievers. And it's not a sin to be tempted anyway; it’s just a sin to give in to temptation. The Bible says Jesus was tempted in every way, just like you are, and yet he never sinned.
You're going to be tempted the rest of your life, no matter where you work. But God can use those temptations for good. He can use them to build character. Every time you’re tempted, you get to make a choice. You can choose to resist temptation, or you can choose to act on it.
Every time you give in, temptation harms you. Every time you choose to do good, temptation becomes a stepping stone for growth.
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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