Routed in Prayer: A Devotional for Those Starting New JobsНамуна

Day 8: It’s not fair!

Express Route

Comparison is the thief of joy, or so the saying goes. And yet in today’s world of curated Instagram feeds and humble brags down the pub, it’s easy to fall foul of envy. Today, practise gratitude in a new way, thanking God for all His good gifts. Meanwhile, don’t be ashamed to bring your feelings of inferiority or lack to Him, even as you trust in His faithfulness and provision.

Scenic Route

Read: Psalm 73

Reflect: Ever had a tantrum as a child because something wasn’t fair? Maybe your older sibling got to stay up later than you, or someone else had something you really, really wanted. ‘It’s not fair!’ is the cry of comparison – someone has something I think I’m entitled to.

Hopefully you are less likely to have a full-blown tantrum nowadays, even though the temptation to compare ourselves and our lives to others’ is often present... and even more so as we begin a new job. From the friend with great health insurance perks and a company car through to the graduate somehow already buying their first property, the lives we see curated on social media and hear about at after-work drinks are ripe for envy.  

Psalm 73 addresses envy not so much in terms of snazzy cars and beautiful Instagram grids, but more with regards to seeing ‘the wicked’ flourishing whilst the psalmist struggles. A very natural jealousy, and perhaps one we can relate to when we see others get ahead by doing things that go against our Christian conscience. 

‘The wicked’ aside, however, comparison and envy are very real for each of us as we begin new jobs, particularly if our peers are doing the same. This psalm reminds us to bring those feelings to God, acknowledge them in His presence, accept that we’re a work in progress, and allow our hearts to be made content in the moment that He has given us.  

Pray: If you woke up tomorrow with only the things you had thanked God for today, what would you have? Today, actively practise gratitude. Make a list of all the things you are grateful to God for, focussing particularly on aspects of your new job. Ask for His perspective on your situation and praise Him for His generosity to you.