What do you do when you don’t know what to do next? I’m talking about those times when you are at a crossroads and really need to make a move, but aren’t sure which way to go.
“Now it came about when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” Nehemiah 1:4
Prayer
When things are rough, it is natural and normal to have a period of sadness where we just kind of cry and mourn. But we can’t stay there forever, and Nehemiah didn’t. He knew he didn’t have all the answers about how to make the situation better, but he knew who did – so he went to God in prayer. He asked the Lord to grant him favor and success as he prepared to move forward.
When it comes to career transitions, there are a lot of unknowns one must face. Fear of the unknown can keep us stuck – especially if we struggle with a fear of failure. This is why every career transition must be saturated with prayer. There is absolutely no reason to try to figure everything out on our own. We can go to God for wisdom and guidance, just as Nehemiah did.
Planning
Nehemiah had a clear goal, and he was very passionate about this goal. Nehemiah’s goal was to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem. He started out by doing his homework. He didn’t just show up and say, “let’s get started.” No. He took his time. He inspected the wall, took inventory, and came up with a plan.
When it comes to transitioning into a new job (or especially a new career), planning is crucial. This is not to say that you have to execute the perfect plan before you can leave, but the better the plan, the smoother (and less risky) the transition. Timing, finances, support – these are just a few concerns we would do well to plan out.
People
Nehemiah was not afraid to ask for help. When the king noticed his sad disposition, and asked Nehemiah how he could help, Nehemiah boldly asked for what he needed. He also sought help with the actual rebuilding of the wall. All kinds of people assisted, including the high priest, goldsmiths, perfumers, and women.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help when it comes to pursuing the career you’ve always wanted. I know what it’s like to be the independent, “I can do this on my own” kind of person. That probably won’t serve you well when it comes to going to the next level. There are tons of people out there who would love to support you. Carefully determine who they are and invite them into the process.
Perseverance
“Now it came about that when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews. And he spoke in the presence of his brothers and the wealthy men of Samaria and said, ‘What are these feeble Jews doing? Are they going to restore it for themselves? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish in a day? Can they revive the stones from the dusty rubble even the burned ones?’ Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him and he said, ‘Even what they are building – if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down!'” Nehemiah 4:1-3
As Nehemiah and the people continued to make progress rebuilding the wall, the naysayers grew more angry and concerned. They were determined to fight against the people in an effort to disturb their forward progress. But they continued to pray to God – and they continued to work.
Just as Nehemiah undertook the important work of rebuilding the wall, you are, perhaps, undertaking the important work of building a meaningful and fulfilling career. You will likely encounter critics and challenges, just as Nehemiah did. I would be very surprised if you don’t. The key is to persevere; to keep doing the work.
You can do this. And guess what? You don’t have to undertake this journey alone. Reach out today and let’s chat about how to get you to where you want to be.
