You never know how God will change your perspective on life’s circumstances. You can interpret things one way, but by the time God finishes with you, your understanding of “why” and “what” has completely changed and, of course, with God involved, it’s always for the better.
In 2016, I was terminated from my job. Losing your job is bad enough, but it’s even worse when you know that even though you worked hard and did your best, it wasn’t enough because you weren’t willing to compromise your morals and “play the game.”
I’ve never been the type of person to make excuses. I take responsibility for my actions no matter how difficult that may be. So, when I was terminated, although I was devastated and disappointed to say the least, I knew that there was nothing that I did wrong and nothing more that I could have done to keep that job. I would later find out that me keeping that job was never part of God’s plan for my professional growth.
God had given me a dream about my termination almost a year before it happened. It happened exactly as it did in my dream, from the people who were there to the way the layout of the office had changed from time that I had the dream. The only aspect of my termination that was not included in the dream was an email that I had received the night before I was terminated. Without going into detail, the email was basically outlining my setup to be terminated and the people involved. I wasn’t supposed to have received the email, but I later realized that was another way of God trying to prepare me for what was about to happen.
After losing my job, I was embarrassed and felt like a failure, more to myself than anyone else. I’m a planner and I already had the trajectory of my career (which definitely did not include a termination) all mapped out. So, in my mind, when things didn’t happen as I had planned, I failed. Even if it wasn’t my fault, I’d failed because I let “them” get the best of me. I also felt like I’d failed my family; we’re a two-income household and both incomes were needed. What were we going to do? And we were in this situation because I allowed other people to dictate my future and my destiny. This is what I thought, but I would soon find out just how wrong I was not only in my thinking, but in my focus.
As the weeks went on, I kept feeling a strong urgency to journal my experience and study God’s word as it relates to work and career. I wanted to know what God had to say about career planning and how I should view my career objectives and goals. The more I studied, the more it became clear to me that my priorities were way off when it came to my career and the way that I viewed work. Instead of putting God first in my career, I was putting both my and the company’s mission first. I wasn’t seeking His guidance as my strategy to a successful career. It was this revelation that not only made me see that it was necessary for me to be released from that job, but more importantly, to be released from the mindset that I was allowing to keep me imprisoned in a job that I knew deep in my heart wasn’t good for me or my career. I was putting limits on my faith in what God could do and the plans that He had for me in my career. For some reason, it took something like this to guide me to God and ask what He wanted me to do regarding my profession. My focus started to become less about my wants and goals and more about serving Him in the workplace.
When God released me from my limited thinking and when I accepted His guidance, many doors of opportunity began to open for me that I never thought were possible. I became a best-selling author and speaker. I started a mentoring program and ministry for entry to mid-level professionals that also includes a discipleship program to develop Christ-centered, kingdom-minded professionals so that God is always first in the career guidance offered. I’ve also been blessed with amazing job opportunities and am currently working with an organization where I am afforded the opportunity to bless others using the gifts and skills that God has given me. I’ve had the opportunity to learn from and form relationships with some of the most amazing and gifted people that I know.
My experience has allowed me to encourage others to share my mission of seeking God first and including Him in a corporate and work culture that often requires that we leave Him out. But most importantly, my relationship with God has grown deeper, my faith in Him is stronger, and He is at the center of every aspect of my life!
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.
– Colossians 3:23-24
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Marvel Sims says
Thank you for sharing your amazing story.
Sonya Scott says
You’re welcome, Marvel! My prayer is that it will help someone get through a tough season on the job!
Karin Booker Dancy says
What a powerful testimony! Your story reminds us about the importance of trusting in God’s plan and purpose for each of us. Thank you so much for sharing this with us, xoxo
Sonya Scott says
You’re welcome Karin and thank you for your kind words. You’re so right, trusting God’s plan for every aspect of our lives including our careers is essential!
Rebecca Fitzgerald says
What better way to kick-start my day (even though I’m retired), than to have read your inspiring story! And it’s my birthday, too, so it’s even more inspiring and most definitely a blessing. Your story resonated with me. Will definitely visit your website to learn more. THANK YOU!
Sonya Scott says
Happy Belated Birthday Rebecca! I’m so happy that you enjoyed my testimonial. You have reached the goal that we all aspire to and I’m praying for that you are enjoying being retired. Thank you for visiting the website!
Diane Swanson says
Wow, that was so powerful, Delivered for Something Greater, I feel like I experienced some of the same things when I was let go from a job, this was powerful and inspiring. Thanks for sharing
Sonya Scott says
Thank you Diane! Being terminated is definitely not what any of us would choose in our career journey, but God showed me that He can use absolutely anything for His glory!
Cheron Victoria Wicker says
Sonya, thank you for sharing your gifts. Layoffs are never easy (I was laid-off twice during my 30-year career and we were also a 2-income family). The first time was devastating, I was 9 months pregnant with my second child and was terminated on the first day of my maternity leave. This was pre-pregnancy leave laws so legally, there was nothing I could do. It turned out that I was going to need to be home because my daughter was born critically ill with a rare, congenital heart defect and underwent her first open-heart surgery at the age of six months. God provided everything we needed during this difficult time. I learned to focus on his promises rather than my plans. I am so happy that your life changed for the better once you focused on God’s plans for your life..His love us is amazing – we just have to trust and believe. Phillipians 4:6-7
Sonya Scott says
Amen Cheron! Your testimony is pretty powerful and you’re so right about His love for us and trusting and believing in Him.
Tonee Shelton says
Sonya, this is so inspirational. Often we well God our plans and hope that He’ll adjust. Nope. It does not work that way and you have no peace. So honored to read your story. Keep shining.
Sonya Scott says
Thank you Tonee! You’re absolutely right, that was definitely a lesson that I needed!
Jazzman says
Sonya, that you for telling your testimony through this article. Almost 2 months ago, I was terminated from my job. I actually was praying over my jobs months prior and was feeling this heavy heart and weight on my shoulders. Kind of how you received that email, myself and 7 other people got a staff update 1-on-1 meeting less than 30 minutes before the meeting. It was God was telling me that I’m going to be terminated/fired.
The way they told me and let me know that they were reconstructing the organization and I didn’t fit their vision and was eliminate my position. I cried, but most of all kept repeating Jeremiah 29:11 in my head. It’s one thing to lose your job but for someone to tell you don’t fit their vision I knew why God pulled me out because I was much bigger and they could have handled my gifts and anointing on my life that can make change in organization and that scared them. So I’m calling this summer my summer break as God continues to pour into me and guide me to do things and align me to my next career path. And your aspiring me. Thank you so much for this article!
Sonya Scott says
You’re welcome Jazzman and I’m sorry to hear about your job loss but I have faith that God is positioning you for something better. Sometimes God will make things happen so that we can slow down. Enjoy your summer of rest and I will be praying for God’s guidance to your new role!
Angela says
What a beautiful blessing, you allowed God to use you in a mighty way!! May God continue to bless and keep you❤️❤️
Sonya Scott says
Thank you so much Angela!
Gyna Bivens says
Glory to God.
Sonya Scott says
Amen Gyna, thank you so much!
LaTonya Holmes says
So beYOUtiful, Sis! Thanks for sharing.
Sonya Scott says
Thank you LaTonya!