Handling Office Pressures
February 3rd, 2010 by Shyju Mathew
Expect reality Well, the truth is that since the fall of Adam, it has been in the nature of the fallen man to slander, play unfair, lie blatantly, be jealous of another person’s promotion and every other vile thing you can think of. So, to go into a secular setting where the fear of God is a rarity and then to expect everything to be fine and dandy may be a farfetched expectation. As a child of God, you must also be prepared to face these kinds of challenges before you decide to skip the job.
Others have issues, too! Let’s be real! Your boss, your manager, your colleagues; they all have their own set of frustrations in life. Now, if there is anyone with hope that would be you because you have Christ in you. Your joy is not set on the things of this world but on things to come, the eternal life. Then it could be possible that your boss may be having a bad time at home or having a problem with his boss; or your manager is frustrated with the quality of work your colleagues have turned in, this is your perfect opportunity where you can be the understanding person like a Christian should try to be every single day.
Take a heart test The question you really need to ask is, ‘Is my heart in this place?’ Majority of your issues can be solved if you put your heart into what you do. It is a fact that if you do not enjoy what you do, you will find something or another that will tick you off.Questions you must then ask yourself:- Why is my heart not in it?- If you are doing something that is not what you want to do, then what are your prospects of doing what your heart wants to do?- Has the Lord put me here for a reason? If so, what is it? What can I do then to adjust to see that purpose fulfilled?
Are you the problem? Now you might not want to do this but you must ask yourself, ‘Am I the problem?’ Some people are just hard to work with. Now to know if that is you, you really need to humble yourself and find out if you are the problem. Are you contributing to the stress at the work place? Are you really an innocent bystander being blamed? Have you done anything that would fan the flames of discontent? Ask your colleague for an honest opinion and don’t be mad at them for being honest.
If so, then begin by accepting it. Have an honest discussion with your boss and accept areas that you lack in. Remember people are not God and that they can take their own sweet time to forgive or chances are they may never forget what you did. That’s alright; move on to what best you can do today. If you do not have the knowledge to handle something, what can you do to improve yourself to handle the same? Can you go one step ahead and do things more passionately so that the name of Jesus that you carry is glorified?
Don’t lose foresight It is this big picture of the problem that helps you solve the problem. Now, beyond natural challenges and you being there in the eye of the storm may make people seem very irrational. Remember, the devil would love to pressurize you at your work place just to let you lose your peace and joy. For this you must be cautious about the unreasonable situations at your work place. So before deciding on the best course of action, take a step back and pray. Guard your heart from losing your joy. The joy of the Lord should remain your strength; not your wallet, your promotion or even people.
The Spiritual Problem I have heard and seen countless situations when there has been a strong battle between the spiritual forces that clash with the Spirit of God in you. Before you take things into your own hands, fight the evil spirits working behind it on your knees. Ask the Lord to show you the potential hurdles that slow you down. Ask God for wisdom and favor. Most of all, believe that God would give you directions. Be sensitive to where God wants to lead you to from this place. Note: If you are fighting your own battle, God may wait till you are done!
A powerful verse in Proverbs 21: 1 says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turns it to wherever he pleases.” If that is so then the heart of your boss or your colleagues are in God’s hands, too. God cannot work if you have already given up. Be strengthened for nothing is impossible with God.
Practical ways to stay cool While you are engaged in spiritual battle, remember to be practical, too. Don’t blame everything on the enemy and stay ignorant. Now that you are in the battle, take decisions in a proper manner. Prioritize your tasks, as the time is the most critical element. Maintain a notebook if you have to. Don’t waste your time. Delegate work if that is an option. Identify if there is a project overload. Write down precautions of possible problems and goals to avoid the past mistakes. Do you have a set of goals? Make plans to support your goals.
Additionally, stay healthy. Don’t overstress yourself. Keep your mind in the present. Drink plenty of water to avoid fatigue and to be fresh. Find someone who can mentor you on these challenges. And oh, should I say, read plenty of BIBLE every single moment that you can, even in your breaks (Try Proverbs). To sum it up, one of my favorite verse from Romans 8: 28 says, “All things work together for good, for them that love God”
Question: What are your strategies to handle the battles at your work? Are there any more points that you add to this? Don’t forget to share this.
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thanks for this post!!! its amazing and this is exactly what i need. God BLESS you!!
very very very helpful indeed, for past few, i keep on telling to my friends that im planning to run away to any deserted jungle. Just to escape the work pressure. This message really really really an wake up call for me. Anyway decided not to go to jungle because its full of mosquito, i'll became more stressed.
That was funny. Praise God the post helped.
This has been so helpful and timely for me. I know God is with me in my battles. This blog seems to have been written just for me!!!! thank you.
Sister it was good meeting you and your family. Your little kid is amazing. GOd bless you five.
Amen, we have to take responsibility, no more blame game. He said be the salt and light to the earth. We have the power to overcome,to preserve and influence the situation in office. Yet I would have you wise – I would wish you carefully to discern the good from the evil, and to show your wisdom, by carefully avoiding the one and cleaving to the other.
Christian are not problem makers, we are people who have solution. Why you may ask?
We have Jesus, who is our source of Wisdom! God said in Jam 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. Jesus is wisdom; the creator of universe has answers to all the problems you can fore see. Jesus is also Spirit of excellence, He does not do perform sluggishly. We Christian, have the same nature. He strength us to do all things.
Amen, we have to take responsibility, no more blame game. He said be the salt and light to the earth. We have the power to overcome, to preserve and to influence the situation at office. Rom16:19 says-Yet I would have you wise – I would wish you carefully to discern the good from the evil, and to show your wisdom, by carefully avoiding the one and cleaving to the other.
Christian are not problem makers, we are people who have solution. Why you may ask?
We have Jesus, who is our source of Wisdom! God said in Jam 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. Jesus is wisdom; the creator of universe has answers to all the problems you can fore see. Jesus is also Spirit of excellence, He does not do perform sluggishly. We Christian, have the same nature. He strength us to do all things.
good point on wisdom!
Amazing thoughts n revelation for the working believers. Thank Jesus for you bro. The reason why i would comment on this article is that I myself was going thru lots of pressures at my work place during the last couple of months in 2009. somedays after work , i used to cry before GOD like anything, though i know you dont need to cry but only ask, but that much BURDEN i was carrying on those days…many collegues told me to have a open chat with my manager on what i am going thru…but the amazing thing is that i never had a leading on doing that…i just used to stick on Romans 8: 28( my favourite words too:)) Thank you my dear lord Jesus for your Holy spirit.
well, to cut short…i dont know if its fortunately or unfortunately, i would say fortunately:) i had a fall at work place n sprained my ankle and shoulder , had to be on work cover for 2 weeks ( good time off from work)…when i returned to work this week i COULD see a new woman in my manager..n i THANK JESUS FOR CHANGING HER HEART FOR ME….
Great testimony. More to come bro. God bless u more.
hahaha Shyju .its a sHEeeeeeeeeeeeeee .hahahha ..but u are blameless ..this is known as the Mallu Name Syndrome
!!! kidding !!
Thank u so much for this post..i had desperately needed it at the moment..God bless u ..
Thank you Holy Spirit for inspiring this man of God speak to me as i was asking for an audible voice to confirm your will in my present situation and also for reaffirming your words "For nothing is impossible with God".
Thank you for the promise which is prophetical as am gonna meet my higher authorities in the coming week, Proverbs 21: 1 says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turns it to wherever he pleases"……..Amen & Amen
amen!!
Dear Br Shyju,
Thank you for the Word of God which cam very powerfully from the Verse in Proverbs 21: 1 says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turns it to wherever he pleases.” If that is so then the heart of your boss or your colleagues are in God’s hands, too.
It really touched me from inside.
God Bless Your Blogs
Pastor Joseph Chacko
Gujarat
Hey Pastor, miss you all. I am now in Miri, Sarawak, hope all of them are well there. Blessings.
Thank you and God bless !
Thank you shyju for the insightful write up…GOD bless you..
My two cents..
1. Draw GOD in, during your day. Say a prayer as often as possible and especially before you start something important. Don't wait till the end of the day to unload your burdens.
2. It is wonderful to start your workday with reading from the WORD.
3. Use every opportunity to pick up a useful new skill and increase your competence. That includes making acquaintances, from whom you could pick up tips. There's atleast one thing that you could learn from most people you meet.
4. Ask GOD for wisdom, understanding, a keen intellect and favor.
Even as I write this, I realize I already knew all this from my knowledge of GOD's promises and probably many of us do. Yet, I still need to do all of the above so much more. As C.S. Lewis says, we don't need so much to be instructed as reminded..
aii thats good. thanks brother.
Thank You Brother! I am really blessed by the messages in this blog!!
It's helping me in my walk with Jesus.
I like to share a testimony here.God touched me,healed me and delivered me in the NLAG Easter sunday service 2008.Surely God gave me a new life and a new anointing.God bless you brother!!
wow, glory to Jesus!
hi bro,
thanks for the post…it realy helps me as i am in a manager position. i have faced so many problems and actualy i am not in the fault. but imazing that i could forget & forgive them and act normal. even when they get increments still i stay calm and no jealosy builds in..this is all coz i am born in Christ Jesus. thank you bro for all the encouragements. God Bless You.
Praise God praise God.
Really needed to read/hear these words in my present work situation….thanks for the writeup….great post as usual!
Praise God praise God.. Jesus loves you!
praise the lord uncle….tat was a brilliant post…..really helped me focus….ive jus started at my new job….ive been takin a gap year and been spenting a lot of time in God's presence…and all of a sudden the job is making me loose my focus…this has really been hurting me!..now i understand lookin at our Father at all times is the solution rather than tryin find solution on ur own!! "If you are fighting your own battle, God may wait till you are done! " absoulutly loved tat
God bless You:)
"If you are fighting your own battle, God may wait till you are done! " Simply awesome. This is exactly me… fighting myself and not trusting God… I am trying to focus on Him though
I hear u. Fight on on your knees! Blessings.
Thanks,much needed article for me
God bless you more.
Ok Brother,…this needs to be asked… Where did u learn all these from …considering u never worked
… Right On Bro,,,,,the eternal principles work no matter 
) …Blessings and love ,
Well you made me go back to the article to see where I got each points. Basically, I guess, I get to hear a lot of pain and complains about people struggle at work. Also the fact that my ministry is also work, so some similarities. Good question pal.
Oh boy, I should say this really is an eye opener…I get so frustrated with the things going on in off…I think I should never lose joy or peace, come what may…Tks again
A lot of wisdom in these posts, Godly wisdom. Man will always have to work and we have to work the way God wants us to work to enjoy true happiness !!