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The Vocational Struggle
Published: 12/3/2009 12:11:57 PM

The Vocational Struggle

Pastor Jeff Cloeter

     A MAJOR issue facing young adults is vocation.  “What should I do with my life?”  “What job is best for me?”  “How do I know if I’m doing the right thing?”  “I’m frustrated with my current job.  I don’t know what to do.”  With the economic downturn, not only are their few jobs available, but baby boomers that planned on retiring are now extending their careers.  Those who are young adults today will be affected by these circumstances for the rest of their lives.  Read the vocational struggle of Ryan.  If you’re a young adult, know that you’re not alone.  If you are one in the church who cares about young adults, know of the particular struggles of young adults trying to find their place in the world and the workforce.

Like so many others, especially those in their early twenties, I have undergone a vocational crisis (and am still working through it), so I thought I would share my experience and insights on it all:

I went through four years of college under the delusion that I wanted to be a physical therapist. I never changed majors, I never outwardly second-guessed my career choice, yet I never felt fully confident in my plan. I was just going with the flow. It was easier to just tell people that I knew what I wanted to do with the rest of my life than actually try to figure it out.

I applied to a Doctor of Physical Therapy program.  But after Christmas break, I began to have second thoughts. They popped up here and there at first but started coming with force at the end of January. Things intensified drastically when I came down with a mystery stomach illness. I felt miserable being in class. Nausea came and went, so it was very discomforting trying to make it through eight hours of class everyday. This caused me to dread going to school, and I began to think heavily about whether I even wanted to continue with the program.

In the end, after much prayer and discussion with those close to me, I decided it was best to leave the program. It felt weird. I didn't know if I was quitting for the right reasons or if I was just taking the "easy" way out. I was confused, and most of all, I was ashamed. I knew that almost everyone went through something similar at some point, but I always thought I was better than that. It was the first time in my life that I was truly faced with something difficult. I had no clue what to do. It was the first time that I felt truly at God's mercy, instead of being in control of everything.

I eventually got a job at a coffee shop and started working on an MBA, which gave me something to occupy my time. Recently, I got a job at Boeing and am settling in there. These positive steps have relieved much of the stress and pressure, but I still don't know where my career is heading. I know that I am not alone in this feeling. So the question is, how do we know if we are heading down the right path professionally? Why does God not make it clear to everyone where they should be and why? Is it okay to grind it out in unfulfilling jobs as long as we are able to pay the bills or should we be looking elsewhere? Unfortunately, God does not always provide clear answers, but He does offer us contentment in a relationship with Him. I need to rely on this relationship more, and then I won't feel as though I need to have everything figured out for myself. This is easier said than done, but it does give us hope and encouragement to make it through these tough periods in life.

    Could I come up with five suggestions for discovering your career?  Probably.  But that’s not my intent in this article.  Ryan’s story tells us something important about the vocational struggle.  It IS a struggle.  And that’s OK.  For a generation that has grown up in a country of great prosperity and endless opportunities, it’s OK to struggle “instead of being in control of everything” (Ryan’s words).  When we lack control, we find places for faith.  And that’s right where God wants us.  A suggestion?  Begin with Psalm 25.