Girl Talk with Sarah 2 of 10

July 04, 2012 • No comments

The Contest:
Each time you comment here on our Graf-Martin Communications blog, you will be entered into a contest for a chance to win a copy of Stress Point. Winners will be drawn (from names on the blog) every two blog posts! Details are here. Our first winner will be chosen tomorrow at 12noon ET, so be sure to leave your comment on either of these two blog posts!

The Question:
My question today comes from my girlfriend Sam. I met her during my first year of University at McMaster. We ended up being in the same program and in many of the same classes. We also both decided to do our post-graduate certificate in public relations at Humber College. She’s a seriously awesome chick – we’ve spent many nights doing assignments together- and by assignments, I mean eating junk food and chatting while we attempt to finish our school work.

Hi Sarah! Growing up I knew I loved reading and writing, and this passion grew more in my high school years. When it came time to apply to University, I chose the English and Communications program and achieved a Bachelor of Arts degree. In my last year of University, after a lot of thought I decided I would complete a post-graduate degree in public relations. At the time I thought it was the right decision, and I loved the program and what I was learning. I’m halfway through the mandatory two-month internship working at a big public relations agency downtown Toronto and have started having doubts. What if I’m not right for this industry? Am I talented enough to have a career in this field? Will the stress of working in the public relations industry be too much for me? Is working downtown Toronto the right work environment for me?  Should I have gone into teacher’s college after my undergraduate degree, like I had originally thought I would?  Am I using the talents God has given me to the best of my ability? Is the work I’m doing bringing glory to God? These are all questions that have been running through my head lately and I’m trying my best to sort through it all. I know I’m still young, and that I’m not trapped working in public relations forever if it doesn’t turn out to be the right career for me, but I’m wondering if you can shed a little light on this topic. What suggestions do you have for someone like me, who thought they had chosen the right career path but is now having doubts?

Sarah’s Words of Wisdom:
Sam, thanks for the awesome question. I know others feel the same way so I’m glad you shed light on this topic. I write a lot about “dream jobs” in Stress Point chapter 1. Many of us work hard through college preparing for that one BIG dream job. While it is great to prepare for the future and even dream about our career, our main dream and focal point needs to be Jesus. Are we focused more on getting closer to Him rather than trying to figure out the future? Are we more focused on our own agenda than seeking Jesus first and allowing Him to guide and direct our career? Do we take everything to Him and ask, “Lord, show me where You want me. Show me how to best use the talents you’ve given me.” Take some time to prayerfully journal through where you are right now and where you see your career path going. Ask God to open or shut doors of opportunities and to give you clarity. Also, ask Him to prepare your heart to actually listen to what He is saying.

I also agree with you when you said that you are not locked into a career path for the rest of your life. The Lord doesn’t waste anything! Every new job you have builds upon your knowledge base, even if the jobs are totally different from each other. For instance, I worked in sales for close to ten years and now I’m an author. The experience I gained in working as a sales person helps me every day when I’m promoting my books, when I’m speaking in front of people and when I need to write a business letter. Nothing is wasted. So, take heart. Stay close to the Lord and trust that if you seek Him first, He will be found and you will be where you need to be.

“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord…” Jeremiah 29:13-14

More advice and wisdom surrounding the blog post can be found in chapter 6 of Stress Point, entitled “Stress Point: Career-Wishing for the Dream Job.”  Be sure to check out Sarah’s blog and this entry as part of her online Bible study. One of Sarah’s readers recommended this song as a source of encouragement during times of uncertainty. It’s my hope that it encourages you this week. Click here and spend a few minutes listening to this song and thinking about who you are in the eyes of the King.