I Am Not My Job

For the first time in my life I felt accepted. Not accepted because of “forced” or close proximity, but because of who I am. If you told me that this acceptance would come through co-workers at a part-time retail job I was too ashamed to have as a college graduate, I would not believe you. The happiness I experienced at this job, was unusual and foreign. I felt contempt, and the experience felt like a large sigh of relief. What made me happy about the experience wasn’t the money, the promotion potential, benefits, or any other thing that makes jobs desirable, it was my co workers and the love I experienced.

For awhile I thought the value of my being was in what I do and my purpose, and not in who I am. I thought my greatness or greatness, is attached to projected impact, popularity, or acceptance of the crowd. After having the position, it allowed me to reimagine my value system and really champion for my happiness, rather than the things around me that I thought would bring me happiness.

So many lessons I’ve learned, but the biggest lesson learned, is when you put your identity and value in things outside of God, you are building your home on shaky ground. Me seeing myself as less valuable, because of the lack of opportunities coming my way; shaky ground. It’s like having a watchmen guard a city without God’s protection (Psalm 127:1). Foolish. I learned to do what makes me happy and not chase things I think will make me happy. By no means am I saying do outside of God’s will if it makes you happy, but I am saying have discernment about what brings your spirit joy. And know that we deserve the joy that God promised.

The story of how I felt joyous at my job? I thought, job titles, companies, the perception of others, or benefits, would bring me the joy, but It ended up being the love ethic of my coworkers and myself. Crappy job but good people. It was a reminder that my happiness matters more than the opportunities I am afforded. That when I put me first, I do not have to be last. It reminded me of my value system, which is more valuable to me than worldly things. I am not my job and not or you. Access the joy God has for you, regardless of what the world says.