Jeremiah 1:5 , Proverbs 25:2, Ephesians 1:3-10, Philippians 2:12-13, Philippians 4:13
In an ideal world, organizational leaders would know what is good for the organization, but also what is good for each employee. They would know exactly how to recognize the unique gifts and contributions of each employee, and how to recognize and even celebrate those contributions and accomplishments. They would allow their employees to grow and develop, and they would be just as committed to the personal success of each employee as they would be to the success of the organization itself.
But we do not live in a perfect world. Thus, it is very easy to feel underappreciated on the job, and to feel like we are not being used to our full potential. Our gifts are often overlooked, and we are relegated to a role that leads to a hardening of perceptions about who we are and what we can do, which can often feel limiting and stifling. And if we’re not careful, we will be more concerned about our own needs and goals and less concerned about what is good for the organization. And in doing that, we can easily succumb to resentment and the “grass is greener on the other side” mentality, which causes us to overlook the good things about our job, the company for which we work, and the team of which we are a part.
Our best hope is to trust God with our future, and with our hearts. He alone can guard us from the self-absorption that comes with resentment and discouragement. He alone can help us serve faithfully at work, even if we don’t always feel that we are being fully utilized or our contributions fully acknowledged. He alone can help us to think more about how to serve others on our team (including our leaders), and if we are in the leadership position, he alone can give us the grace to look beyond the tyranny of the urgent so that we can truly understand how to best develop and care for our staff. And finally, he alone can ensure that our lives will not be wasted, overlooked, or discarded, but instead used for his eternal purposes.
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