Post by: Jed Chun
Honestly, having a job can sometimes be a real drag. Whether it is long hours, lack of work to do, too much work to do, meaningless busy work, lack of challenge, too much challenge, stress, or even just plain boredom - it is easy for us to lose sight of our purpose. I often feel as though the question, “Why am I doing this?” comes up more frequently than we would want or even expect. I have not been working in the social services field for very long, about a year and a half, but I’ve already found myself asking this very question on more than one occasion.
You would think that working in a field like therapy, where I’m tasked with helping people deal with their problems on a daily basis, forgetting my purpose at work would be relatively difficult. But the reality is that, between the large stacks of paperwork, the frustratingly slow progress that your clients are making, and the emotional exhaustion, it becomes very easy to start seeing people and work as another burdensome chore.
It was not too long ago that I was thinking to myself, “What am I doing? I don’t even think I can help this person. I have to come up with a treatment plan for them and “fix” their problem within this time frame? I’m not a freaking miracle worker, people!” And for a while I was daydreaming about how I would much rather be working at my own restaurant and not have to deal with all of the emotional baggage of other people.
Now, very few people go into a helping profession (social service, medicine, etc...) expecting it to be roses and butterflies, but sometimes working through the difficulties and the problems in people’s lives is much different than just being prepared for them. The same can be said for many other professions as well. I feel as though, eventually, most people will reach a point where they will question just about every decision they have made that has led them to wherever they currently are. Some people will undoubtedly just give up whatever they are doing for something more suitable for them, but some will find a reason to stay.
When it comes to those who choose to stay, I think that it often has to do with remembering the reason why they started in the first place. Now I don’t have any definitive empirical evidence to back this up, but based on the people that I have talked to who stick it out at their job or school or whatever they are doing, the common theme is refocusing their attention back on what got them started on their current path. I chose the latter, because, even if I’m not a miracle worker, I continue to work through the hard cases for the sake of those who I can help. If I can make their lives better in anyway, then I would consider that a success. I’m doing this for the happiness of others.
Coincidentally, I find that a very similar principle applies to our Christian walks as well. I have been in Christian communities long enough to know that every Christian, at one point or another, has questioned their faith or at the very least wondered why they were doing what they were doing. Between the attendance related things like Sunday Service, youth group, small group, life group, prayer meeting, meetups, church clean up, Sunday school, member’s meetings (the list goes on and on) and the expectation/discipline related stuff like read your Bible, pray, have quiet time, share the gospel/reach out to non-Christians, being a good witness, encourage/bear one another’s burden (and the list goes on) it becomes exceedingly easier to throw up your hands and say something along the lines of, “God, what the heck am I doing?” (Especially at our Asian churches, we love our church functions.)
And I think it is a very reasonable response. Often times we find ourselves trying to do too much when we’ve got nothing left to go on*. We find ourselves at the end of our ropes and wonder if this is all going to be worth it in the end. I know that I have been there multiple times. But, as with our vocations and other responsibilities in our lives, we’ve been called to Christ and something initially drew us to him.
My encouragement then, is this: remember the Gospel and the love by which you were first called. The Gospel that first drew you into the loving arms of God has not changed. The truth that He loves, has loved, and will continue to love you, will never change (Psalm 100:5). As cheesy as this may sound, think back to that moment where you first realized and experienced that joy that so utterly gripped your heart that you could feel nothing but amazement and wonder (Psalm 16:11). What led you to that moment? What did God say to you? Why did it all start to make sense?
I think the author of Hebrews expresses these thoughts more concisely and eloquently than I ever could:
“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1b-3 ESV)
*Now, I am not here to say that you shouldn’t participate in these activities or criticize churches for having too many functions. I think that every believer should prayerfully and biblically consider how their lives ought to be glorifying to God, through above means or otherwise. Please consult your pastor, elder, discipler, or spiritual mentor for more specific questions.
Jed Chun is a registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern and is actively involved at a Chinese American church in the San Gabriel Valley. He is passionate about bringing the concepts of healthy family development and relationships into the context of Asian immigrant and Asian American communities. He hopes that through his words, his experiences in his faith, and his journey with God can be an encouragement to others to love God and love one another.