In his 2005 commencement address at Stanford University, Steve Jobs delivered a word of professional advice that has inspired far more people than the 23,000 who heard his speech in person: “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life…the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle…And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on.”
The professional lifestyle described by Jobs sounds incredibly sweet. And yet for almost everyone I know, the part of Jobs’ speech that rings truest is the first part: “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life.” Perhaps you can relate. Do you ever feel like the pressures of your job are slowly consuming all of your thoughts and energy? Do you find yourself missing time with friends and loved ones because you’re stuck at the office? Are you forced to work two or more jobs just to make ends meet?
I can think of countless friends who would answer, “yes,” to these difficult questions. For them, the daily grind of work hardly feels like an eternally blossoming relationship. Instead, their jobs represent a frustrating clash between passions and abilities on one hand and immediate financial needs on the other hand. Who has time to “keep looking” for a more satisfying career when the rent is due tomorrow?
If you find yourself consumed by a frustrating job (or two), you can certainly take Jobs’ advice and “don’t settle.” In fact, there’s nothing wrong with seeking a healthier professional lifestyle. But in the meantime, you can also seek the rest and peace of God available to you in his Word.
Here are five Bible verses that you can turn to when the pressures of work feel all consuming:
- Psalm 73:26 (GNTD)
My mind and my body may grow weak, but God is my strength; he is all I ever need. - 1 Peter 5:7 (GNTD)
Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you. - Matthew 11:28 (GNTD)
Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. - Psalm 62:7 (GNTD)
My salvation and honor depend on God; he is my strong protector; he is my shelter. - Philippians 4:6-7 (GNTD)
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.