Principle 3 of the Seven Foundational Principles of Career Success
One of the major lessons the Covid 19 pandemic has taught us is the reaffirmation that we do not know as much as we think we do.
Strategy failed, annual budget didn’t measure up, goals were unachieved despite the best effort and many who entered the year 2020 with lofty plans were left jobless.
What happened? Covid happened and showed us many are the plans in a man’s heart but only the counsel of the Lord stands.
There are so many discussions on the trending “future of work” and these are usually followed by suggestions on how to prepare for the future. Great thing to do but how many people prepared for Covid-19 and it effects? No one, just some lucky folks who latched unto the opportunities presented by the pandemic. It wasn’t because they knew the pandemic was coming and prepared for it but they observed technological trends and decided to do something. An example is Zoom which was founded in 2011.
The best we can do is to observe trends and be able to speculate what the future could look like, we cannot predict the future and neither can we adequately prepare for it on our own.
There is however the true predictor of the future. He is called the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He knows the thoughts He has for each of us to give us an expected end. How we arrive at the expected end is totally His doing and except we cooperate with Him, we would never achieve His planned future for us.
The scriptures puts it out here the essence of our salvation;
“for He delivered us and saved us and called us with a holy calling [a calling that leads to a consecrated life—a life set apart—a life of purpose], not because of our works [or because of any personal merit—we could do nothing to earn this], but because of His own purpose and grace [His amazing, undeserved favor] which was granted to us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago],”
2 Timothy 1:9 AMP
We see that we were saved because of His purpose which is to be fulfilled now and in the future, and this purpose has been predetermined for us to walk in it as said in the book of Ephesians.
“For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].”
Ephesians 2:10 AMP
If He saved us for His purpose and has prepared for us good works beforehand to walk in them, then it means the future of our career is sorted by Him. All we need to do is to surrender our will to His so that we can truly walk in why He has prepared for us.
Since He is also the ones that works in us both to will and to do according to His good pleasure, He will always guide us in preparing us for the future. He will open our eyes to trends around us and tell us how to position ourself for the future He has planned for us.
We must always learn to recognize divine instructions even when it comes as an instruction from man, as a thought, insights from books or listening to an expert otherwise we could miss out on what He has planned for us if we are not prepared.
God bless you.
Akindele Afolabi
Christian Employee Series