I’ve been richly blessed for much of my working life, since I’ve usually loved my job. By that I mean, of course, that I loved 50-60% and liked 20-30%. As for the rest, well, grading does get kind of old; some committees are . . . maybe less than truly meaningful; and while I’ve never truly disliked a student, there have been a few occasions where I really wanted to throw one out of my office for a bit. But every job has downsides, and I truly loved teaching when I wasn’t also doing administration. Besides, I knew as a teacher that I was making a significant difference in students’ lives, and sometimes they actually come back or write back and tell me that, even the students who weren’t so fond of me and my demanding standards when they were in my classes.

For the last several years, I have felt less blessed by my work situation. I don’t love what I do. I love the people I do it for, and I believe it’s important. I’m reasonably good at it. I do experience satisfaction when I accomplish something that will positively impact my department or my campus as a whole. However, for me, that satisfaction doesn’t begin to compare to what I feel when I’m in front of classroom that is with me and is getting it or when I’ve been sitting and working with a student and suddenly the light comes on.

You might ask why I’m doing a job I’m not so fond of in place of the one I loved. There are answers having to do with duty and concern for my department, but ultimately I believe that God has placed me in this position for this time.

So what do I do with that? I can tell you I’ve done a lot of less than helpful things. I complain. My husband and sons could certainly tell you that. I ask God when it’s going to end. I look for ways to eliminate stress, so I find that my fiction is mostly of a much lighter variety these days, less philosophical fantasy and science fiction, more mind candy romance. All of these things feel like they help temporarily, but they don’t really address the problem.

Lately, I’ve been reminded of Colossians 3:23-24:  Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ (ESV).

Too often, I’m working for the dean (my boss), or my faculty, or my students, or to impress people with what I’ve accomplished. Even as a teacher, I probably worked more often for my students and my own satisfaction than for God. I’ve even wondered if a piece of the reason God has put me where I am now is to encourage me to look more to him and focus my efforts for his pleasure because I’m not as happy with my work inherently.

So what does it look like when I work “as for the Lord and not for men”? I think that involves prayer before every decision (and not just the obviously hard decisions). I think it includes concern for what’s best for every person involved in every decision. I think it includes constant reminders to myself that it doesn’t actually matter what anyone thinks of my work except God. However, it does matter what God thinks, so I must do my best at all times. And the result should be (and is, when I really do it), less complaining, more patience, less stress, and greater satisfaction.