In today's fast-paced and high-pressure work environment, many Christians find themselves facing a significant challenge: How can they uphold their faith in the workplace? This challenge is especially pronounced in places where an overtime culture prevails and weekends are just another workday. For many believers, maintaining Sunday worship and serving in church has become increasingly difficult. But the story of our sister in Christ, Xiaozhang, offers a compelling perspective.
Xiaozhang grew up in a Christian family, with her mother taking her to church from a young age. While she was raised in a religious environment, her faith is not merely inherited; it blossoms through her personal experiences of God's love. Today, she is a vital member of her church's youth fellowship and actively participates in ministry every week.
Since her high school years, Xiaozhang has confidently embraced her Christian identity. She frequently mentions her faith when introducing herself and invites friends to join her at church. "I've noticed that the more I openly acknowledge my faith, the more respect I receive from others, often accompanied by unexpected blessings," she shared.
This openness extends to her workplace as well. Xiaozhang takes the initiative to share her beliefs and invites colleagues to church events. She firmly believes that faith should not be a secret but rather a fundamental part of a believer's life that should shine through in every aspect.
Xiaozhang had been working part-time at an IELTS training institution. In this industry, full-time employees are often required to work long hours on weekends, which happen to be when she attends church. As a result, although the institution repeatedly invited her to take on a full-time role, she always found polite reasons to decline.
Last week, Xiaozhang headed to the institution to pick up some new teaching materials. She had planned to head straight home afterward, but once again, she received an unexpected invitation from the HR department to sign a full-time contract. During the conversation, Xiaozhang mentioned that as a Christian, she has church commitments on Sundays, which could complicate her scheduling of classes. To her surprise, the HR representative replied, "I can make you the first person in our institution who has no classes on Sundays." Their conversation flowed smoothly, and in the end, Xiaozhang decided to sign the full-time contract.
Reflecting on the experience, Xiaozhang said, "I used to worry about the instability of part-time jobs and the challenges with social security, but God has perfectly resolved these concerns through this full-time position. His ways are higher than ours, and His plans always exceed our expectations!"
Looking back on her school days and her work experiences, Xiaozhang sees each step as a beautiful and precise arrangement by God. The teaching experience and language skills she gained from her first job after graduation are now being put to good use and recognized in her new role. She truly loves her current job and feels that whenever she approaches her work with faith, God guides her to succeed.
Xiaozhang also shared how God provides for her in her daily life. Even during times when her bank account held only a few hundred yuan, she remained untroubled because she had witnessed God's faithfulness in her life. "Whenever I need something, God always provides at just the right moment, just like how the Israelites received manna in the wilderness."
Originally published by the Gospel Times
- Edited by Karen Luo and translated by Joyce Leung
