"..then Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, 'Come, let us meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me. So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” Nehemiah 6:2-3 nasb
Did they all feel like doing the work on that wall? It sure was very necessary -- it was God's will.
Stay on the Wall Bro — Let's Do Work That Protects People and Honors God
I will pray for you if you need some employment.
Whatever your task, if you are serving the Lord where you are, you are doing a great work for God. Whether you greet guests at the church door, lead worship in song, guide children in truth, or labor quietly behind the scenes, your faithfulness is sacred. God’s measure of greatness is not position but obedience.
“It is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). The world may rank work by importance, but heaven weighs it by devotion. Martin Luther once said, “The maid who sweeps her kitchen is doing the will of God just as much as the monk who prays—not because she may sing a Christian hymn as she sweeps, but because God loves clean floors.”
Nehemiah knew this truth well. When his enemies tried to distract him from rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall, he refused to come down. “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down” (Nehemiah 6:3). His strength was not pride but purpose. God’s work deserves our undivided heart.
Paul echoed the same spirit: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23). Work becomes worship when done for God’s glory. Whether in ministry, at home, or in the marketplace, your labor can become an altar of praise.
Work is also a means of love—toward family and others. “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith” (1 Timothy 5:8). Diligence is not drudgery when seen as stewardship; it’s an act of worship.
Charles Spurgeon reminded, “To a man who lives unto God, nothing is secular, everything is sacred. He puts on his workday garment and it is a vestment to him.”
So keep building. Keep serving. Don’t come down from your wall until the work is done. You may not see all the fruit, but the Lord does. “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
Work for His glory. Provide for those you love. Finish your race with joy, knowing that in the Lord, “your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Ask God what you are called to do after getting right with Him through Christ.
What the data says — Hey, you’re not alone
You asked how many people end up in careers they didn’t primarily want, or stay in jobs that aren’t their preference. While few studies ask exactly that in Christian ministry vs secular work terms, there are data on job satisfaction and related mismatch, which speaks to what you’re describing.
-
A 2024 Pew Research Center study shows about 50% of U.S. workers say they are extremely or very satisfied with their job overall. Another ~38% are “somewhat satisfied,” and ~12% are not much satisfied with their work situation. PewResearch
-
Another source says about 65% of Americans are satisfied with their work, and only about 20% are “passionate” about what they do.
-
Among those least satisfied are the areas of pay, opportunity for promotion, recognition, flexibility, etc. PewResearch
So yes — a large share of people work in jobs that are okay, or tolerable, or even good in many respects, but only a small proportion feel they are doing exactly what they would ideally choose, or are living out their highest calling every day.
The spiritual & emotional side
What you describe — feeling anger, grief, loss over the path you didn’t choose, and even feeling like your ministry is limited — is very human, and in many traditions fairly common. If I may, some Biblical and spiritual reflections:
-
God’s plans are not always the same thing as our plans. Joseph in the Old Testament didn’t think he would be sold into slavery, but God used that to save many. Paul’s missionary journeys were not always his own choosing, but Paul on these trips was instrumental in the growth of the early church. Sometimes God’s “yes” is behind paths we didn’t foresee.
-
Our identity in Christ does not ultimately depend on what we are “doing” externally, but who we are in him, how we love, how we bear witness, how we serve. Blogging, audio teaching, caring for people — these are valuable ministries.
-
Many people God used deeply were lay people, not full-time preachers. Your job in hospitality might give you ways to show Christ’s love in tangible ways: kindness to guests, moral integrity, encouragement to coworkers; maybe even sharing your faith in small conversations. That matters.
How can you, with God's grace, better cope, moving forward, while finding hope
Need some practical and spiritual steps that may help:
-
Grieve & accept
It’s okay to feel disappointed. Give yourself space to grieve what you thought your life would look like. Accepting reality doesn’t mean giving up; it means freeing your energy to work with what you do have. -
Reframe what “ministry” means
You don’t have to stand at a pulpit to serve or preach. Ministry can be through writing, through hospitality, through photography, through caring for someone in need, mentoring, prayer, small group teaching, or hospitality to strangers. God sees those. -
Set realistic, measurable goals
For blogging / audio blog:-
How many posts or episodes per month can you commit to?
-
What topics? Who specifically do you want to reach?
-
How will you share those posts? Social media, church newsletter, etc.
-
-
Learn some skills you’ll need: audio recording/editing, writing, how to reach an audience online, managing a small content calendar. These take time, but can increase your confidence and impact.
-
Find a community
Connect with others who do similar ministry (bloggers, lay-teachers, etc.). Not only for encouragement, but also for accountability, shared learning, maybe even collaboration. -
Do small steps in speaking
Even if you’re not “invited” formally, see if you can speak to small groups in your church, at retreats, family gatherings, youth groups. That keeps your teaching muscles alive, even if it’s not the big pulpit. -
Offer your services
Maybe offer media or audio teaching in your church, or help teach a Sunday school class, or lead a small group. Ways to serve, share, teach without depending on being “professionally” called up. -
Prayer & spiritual perspective
Keep your heart with the Lord: studying Scripture, worship, communion with God. Ask for peace, clarity, perseverance. God’s spirit gives gifts: some are “speaking/preaching,” some are “serving,” some are “encouragement,” some are “giving.” (See Romans 12, 1 Cor. 12).
Audio blogging / podcasting for free — how to do it now
Since you said you’d like to do an audio blog (podcast) but struggle to find free long-space:
Here are some platforms and their limitations, plus tips:
| Platform | Free Plan? | Limitations / Pros |
|---|---|---|
| Podbean | Yes — free plan available. Podbean | Limited storage. Might have less bandwidth or fewer features. Good to start small. |
| Anchor (now part of Spotify for Podcasters) | Yes — free hosting/distribution. Lifewire | Sometimes less control over everything, possibly fewer bells and whistles. But good for starting. |
| Buzzsprout | Has a free plan (“free trial,” limited hours) | The free plan may limit how many hours you can upload or how long episodes are stored. |
| YouTube | Yes — you can upload audio + static image or video recording. Free, and huge reach. | You’ll need to do some extra formatting; might be different kind of audience. But it’s free, and many people find listeners there. |
What you can do:
-
Start with one episode — record on your phone or basic recorder; keep it short (10-15 minutes) if that feels manageable.
-
Use free editing software (Audacity is free; there are free mobile apps too).
-
Use a free hosting platform (Anchor or Podbean) to upload. Make sure your RSS feed is generated so you can submit to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.
-
Promote each episode wherever you can: social media, church, email list.
-
Over time, if people listen, you can invest in better gear or paid hosting.
Hope for the future
You asked for hope. Here’s what I believe, based on what I see and some truths:
-
You can still preach. Even if you’re not hired as a preacher, you still have a voice. God can use your writing, your audio, your influence in your community. Don’t measure impact only by large crowds — small lives are worth it.
-
Your path may still shift. Certainly many people find a way later in life to move into what they thought was their calling, or find a hybrid way: part hospitality / work job + part speaking or ministry. Doors may open later when you least expect them.
-
God is not unjust. Sometimes we feel that God “took something away” — but maybe he’s using this season to grow you, to shape character, to teach perseverance, humility, love, dependence on Him. Often those who serve well in public ministry have had long seasons of unseen or “hidden” work first.
-
You are valuable. The difference you make by how you love, teach, serve, care is real — even if you can’t always see it. Your faithfulness matters.
When God Redirects Our Calling
Many of us find ourselves on paths we never planned. You once dreamed of preaching the Gospel full-time, yet God led you into hospitality — a ministry of service that, though not from the pulpit, can still reveal His love.
You’re not alone in this. Studies show that nearly two-thirds of people work in jobs they didn’t originally choose — and only about one in five feel truly passionate about their work. Yet even here, purpose can bloom. “In all toil there is profit” (Proverbs 14:23), and “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23).
Joseph didn’t choose the path to Egypt. Daniel didn’t plan to serve in Babylon. But God used both where they were planted. The call of God is not confined to pulpits; it thrives wherever faithfulness abides. Charles Spurgeon once said, “To be a servant of God in the meanest capacity is honor enough for the greatest man.”
When the doors to public ministry close, God sometimes opens a hidden chapel of the heart — where your life itself becomes the sermon. Your guests, coworkers, and readers may be the very congregation God entrusts to you today.
John Wesley encouraged, “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can.” Hospitality gives you that chance daily — to live the Gospel through warmth, patience, and kindness.
Blogging and audio teaching can still be powerful pulpits. Paul preached from prison through his letters; you can preach through your posts. “The word of God is not bound” (2 Timothy 2:9). Even if you never know who reads or listens, the Lord does. “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days” (Ecclesiastes 11:1).
Don’t despise small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10). One faithful word can change a life. One voice of grace can echo through eternity.
When you feel forgotten, remember: Jesus knows the cost of obscurity. He spent thirty years in hidden labor before three years of public ministry. “God’s delays are not God’s denials,” said Corrie ten Boom.
Perhaps this is your season of refining, not retiring. A time to grow deeper, not smaller.
Keep loving the Lord more than the platform, and people more than applause. As you walk humbly, teach quietly, and serve faithfully, you’re preaching a Gospel louder than words.
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” — 1 Corinthians 15:58
When you rise up tomorrow to go begin your work, pause to pray. God help me be ready for anything you allow to come my way--I know you and I can handle it with your Spirit and wisdom. Help me see it not as routine but as ministry..even if it's practically helping someone. God, help me know that this diligence applied can encourage a coworker or visitor, or comfort a weary soul, or reflect You light..I mean Christ's character through patience, faith and humility. Assist me in obeying You, yes with every faithful act—seen or unseen—so that me and my work will become an offering. Help me be a living sermon where you stand. Make my whole life a prayer and praise to You.
Lord, teach me to see You in it, yes, Your glory in my daily work. Help me to labor not for man's applause or recognition, but for Your pleasure. There is a lot of service demanded where I go -- help me not get over-stressed and overwhelmed. Keep me steadfast in You, and loyal where You have placed me.. and where you lead me. May my service, attitude and words—all of it, whether in word, deed, or duty—become pure worship that honors You and really blesses others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment