If Your Job Feels Meaningless

Maybe you’re standing in a moment of uncertainty. Maybe you're asking, Do I stay or go? Shift or rest? Or maybe you're asking the bigger question behind all of it: What does God actually want from me right now?

That question can stir up a lot of pressure, comparison, and fear of missing it. We start trying to make the "right" decision based on what feels most secure, most impressive, or most applauded. But in the middle of the noise, we forget that the most important thing isn’t what we do next—it’s who we do it with.

There’s this powerful moment in Exodus 33, when Moses is in the middle of leading the Israelites through the wilderness. The people had just messed up again, and God tells Moses that He’ll still give them the promised land, but He won’t go with them personally.

Moses doesn’t even blink before responding, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” (Exodus 33:15)

Let that sink in. Moses says, God, I don't want the promise without You. I don’t want the next step unless You’re in it.

He understood something we often forget: it’s not the destination, the opportunity, or the promotion that marks us as God’s people. It’s His presence.

It’s not our job title, platform, or how many people follow us, affirm us, or invite us into something “important.”

What sets you apart isn’t where you go next—it’s who’s going with you.

That changes how we think about calling. Because we can chase the perfect job or the next big thing and still miss what we were made for if God’s not in it. At the same time, we can be in a quiet, unseen place and be right in the center of God’s will if He’s with us there.

Sometimes, the holiest thing you can do is slow down long enough to ask, “God, are You in this?”

Not asking “Does this make sense on paper?”

Not asking, “Does this look good to others?”

But, “Is this where Your presence is leading me?”

The world will always push you toward hustle, toward image, toward the next thing. But God invites you into presence, peace, and trust.

If you're in a season of transition or restlessness, you're not failing. You’re human. The question isn’t whether you’ll get it all right. The question is whether you’ll stay close to God in the process. Because when His presence is the goal, you can move forward with confidence, even if the details are still unclear.

So what do you do now?

You don’t chase the answer. You chase God.

You seek His presence before His promises.

You trust that if He’s in it, it’s worth doing.

And if He’s not, then it’s not worth chasing—no matter how shiny it looks.

Prayer

God, I don’t want to move without You. Help me trust You in the uncertainty and stay near, even without all the answers. Whether I go, stay, build, or wait, let Your presence be what I want most. Lead me step by step. Amen.

Reflection

Think about the decision or season you’re currently in. Maybe it’s about a job, a relationship, a calling, or even just where your time is going. Ask yourself honestly, “Am I being led by God’s presence, or pulled by pressure?”

Take time today to slow down and get quiet. Don’t just ask, “What’s next?” Ask, “Is God in this?”

Try writing out your next step or even your confusion, and then surrender it. Literally. Write at the bottom, “God, I only want this if You’re in it.”

Then listen. Don’t rush. Trust that His presence is not a reward for perfect decisions; it’s a promise for those who choose to stay near Him.