sermon reflection from a guest.

I think it'd be nice to hear from someone else from time to time...don't you? With that in mind, a sermon reflection from Stacy Anderson.

I remember one time when I started working with a new co-worker at the university that my very first interaction with him was very odd. He started off by apologizing that he had taken a message for my boss when that was clearly my job, and he truly hoped that I didn't feel that he was trying to steal my duties from me. I stood there stunned and puzzled because Icouldn'tt imagine why I should be offended by that. I quickly realized that this person was easily offended when the reverse happened and working with him might be quite the challenge.

So, how do we deal with difficult people and situations at work in a godly way? On Sunday, Mark discussed this as he continued the series on Work Life. Mark used the story of Nehemiah as a picture of what a godly response to difficult work situations might look like. Nehemiah certainly had his share of challenges and difficult people to deal with while trying to accomplish the work G-D had called him to, namely rebuilding the wall for the Jewish people in exile. Essentially serving as the foreman to a huge construction project, Nehemiah had to be wise in dealing with his own boss, fighting off critics foes, and even confronting the injustices carried out by his own people against his own people.

Two themes emerged as Mark spoke about Nehemiah and how it relates to our Work Life. Humility and Prayer. First, let me just acknowledge that those disciplines are not easy undertakings in any facet of our life, but developing them in the context of work might seem nearly impossible at times.

Nehemiah was first humble enough to recognize that he lacked the wisdom and strength to accomplish this task on his own. Before he ever even arrived at the work site he was busy at work in prayer. This theme continues throughout the entire book. Every time Nehemiah was faced with a challenge he prayed, even at the very moment the King asked him what it was he wanted, he prayed. There is clearly a lesson to be learned here.

Developing a deep, active and ongoing prayer life might be our biggest asset in dealing with challenges at work!

Through prayer I have access to wisdom about when I should speak up or keep quiet. Prayer in the moment can help me calm down and refocus when there is a looming deadline that I'm not positive I am able to meet. Praying for a co-worker or boss allows G-D to cultivate love for that person in my heart and may help me see them the way G-D sees them, instead of the obnoxious person I see them as. But prayer is not something I turn to when I'm proud and think I have it all together. It is only when humility is cultivated in my life that I recognize my immense need and pray.

For a while that co-worker I talked about, drove me crazy. He constantly referred to job descriptions, stole projects and took credit for things that we did as a team effort. For a long time I felt the need to defend myself, fight back, claim my due credit and play the game. Looking back on it now, it is clear to me that had I prayed and slowed down long enough to hear his story, I might have realized that his past experience has burned him and he was very insecure. If I had chosen humility and gentleness in the situation, perhaps I would have had the chance to show him where real security lies.

So, what about you? Do you have a difficult coworker or boss? How do you deal with them? Do you agree that developing your prayer-life would be an asset to your work-life?

Comments

[Joanna]

I agree. This is where it's at:

"Through prayer I have access to wisdom about when I should speak up or keep quiet. Prayer in the moment can help me calm down and refocus when there is a looming deadline that I'm not positive I am able to meet. Praying for a co-worker or boss allows G-D to cultivate love for that person in my heart and may help me see them the way G-D sees them, instead of the obnoxious person I see them as. But prayer is not something I turn to when I'm proud and think I have it all together. It is only when humility is cultivated in my life that I recognize my immense need and pray."

I know I'm in that "proud spot" when I choose not to pray about the moment. It annoys me that I do that. Why can't I just be "humble enough" to go to Him right then? Then I feel useless. Then I remember God loves me even through that crappy attitude. And, I also remember that He's always redeeming me.

There's a particular co-worker who is rather snarky and belittling behind the email address (and in person, sometimes). I choose to respond to him with genuine thank yous, positive communication, and (one time) a compliment. Now, I want to mean those things and I believe I did them out of grace and love. But, will I continually put this person before me in love? I would like to think so. I should pray about that, shouldn't I? Let me think about how Jesus would write an email to that person...

Great post, Stacy!