How to Start Enjoying Your Work

I don’t even have to hear or talk about inflation. I can see it when I go to the store. 

According to the International Monetary Fund, some countries are seeing inflation of less than 5%, some are between 5 and 10% (like the U.S.) and some over 50%, such as some countries in South America, Africa and the Middle East.

But I’m not here to talk about inflation today. The good news is, despite having its effect on the economy, in May, the monthly U.S. jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that employment is getting close to where it was before the pandemic. Now, here’s the bad news: I still find that practically everywhere I go businesses (big, medium and small) are looking for workers. It almost seems like we no longer want to work.

I remember being in high school, wondering why adults would always talk about what they’d do if they won the lotto, or how they can’t wait to retire. At the time, I had no cares in the world. So, I thought: I don’t need to be rich. Money isn’t everything.

But it wasn’t long until I, too, began to talk about the same things I used to hear those adults say. 

That’s when I understood. Hit the jackpot, so you never have to work again. 

I wonder if that’s what’s running through many people’s minds right now, too…

But in this world, work isn’t our problem…

One day, I realized that God gave me dreams, passions and purpose from Day 1. From that moment on, I had a different outlook on work. 

It isn’t supposed to be a punishment. It’s supposed to keep you fresh, sharp, and productive. Idle hands are the devil’s workshop. But don’t be fooled by that. Just because you’re not involved in mischievous things, it doesn’t mean the devil’s plans aren’t working against you. Sometimes, doing nothing can be just as bad as doing something you’re not supposed to. Be careful! The devil loves it when we’re unproductive. 

Work is supposed to build strength and character. In fact, God put Adam to work in the Garden of Eden before he and Eve ate the forbidden fruit (Genesis 2:15-25). That means work was intended for our own good. 

Its name only highlights money, but Compass’ Building Your Finances God’s Way financial discipleship study reveals this very truth about the purpose of work, too. As a matter of fact, that day I mentioned when I started to develop a new outlook on work… was during one of my devotions from a Compass financial discipleship study. And if it helped change the trajectory of my life, I have good reason to believe it can do the same for you.

If you’re unmotivated to work or struggling with the position you’re in right now, the first thing to do is pray. If you search for the Lord, you will find Him (2 Chronicles 15:2). Jesus feels our pain more than we do. It is not His desire to see us living an unfulfilled life. He came to give us life and for us to have it more abundantly (John 10:10).

Second, realize that you do have a gift (Romans 12:6-8)​​. Everyone does. I don’t care how old you are, where you’re from or what you look like. You do. 

Third, don’t be afraid to be transparent. Just a few minutes of sharing my thoughts with my cousin a couple years ago helped me realize the passions I had that I couldn’t see on my own. 

God puts people in our lives for a reason. Sometimes, listening to Him requires your willingness to listen to them.

With gratitude,

Melody Stampley

Managing Editor

AUTHOR BIO – Melody is the founder of financial coaching business Centsible Finance LLC, which publishes the free e-letter Making Cents. She earned a bachelor’s in public relations from the University of Florida in 2014, and a master’s in global strategic communications from Florida International University in 2017; but she discovered her passion in personal finance and writing, as well as a closer relationship with the Lord, after joining a Compass—Finances God’s Way study in 2020. She now also volunteers as a financial coach for MoneyWise, serves as a member on the Compass Florida board, is the editor for the Compass blog, and a facilitator and trainer for financial discipleship studies. Melody and her husband, Nate, live in South Florida.