https://odb.org/MY/2022/04/18/witness-in-the-workplace
A big question all of us will face every now and then is whether to continue at our workplace or to leave for another opportunity. In the Malaysian context, less are inclined to make that call if they are in government service as government servants work for life because of the life long medical benefits and pension on retirement. However, even government servants have flexibility to apply for transfers or to move departments or schools.
The tension comes as we are frustrated because new people coming in are messing up our way of working. Sometimes imposing bureaucratic steps that slow things down or using constant updates and reporting as a management tool, which usually imposes additional work when the real and regular work was already challenging. I recall many years back when I was negotiating a contract abroad from morning till night only to return to the hotel for dinner and sleep but also to write a daily update on the progress of the negotiations late at night. So at the working level, people find that they have to get things moving and yet at the same time they need to spend considerable time preparing slides and reports for senior management. Or the things we want to do to streamline processes or to make things more efficient get shot down. The improvements were obvious to us but oblivious to our higher-ups. Sometimes improvements are refused because of political or personal reasons and not on merit and that makes us even more frustrated.
So do we leave or stay? Leave if we are really unhappy and the situation impacts our health and general well being. Pray that God will open a way for us to move on. However, a more pertinent prayer I believe is what is your will O Lord? Do You want me to stay on to continue with my good works here? Do you want me continue to glorify Your name through my integrity throughout the situation, that I maintain my professionalism despite the setbacks I received. We know that as a Christian, we don’t go for the door the moment we see trouble. We flee from temptation and the devil, but not trouble and hardwork. Why? Because the latter builds us up – as we suffer, we persevere and as we persevere, we build character. As we do more, we get more familiar and thus become better and that applies to new processes and bureaucratic steps.
The message today is I believe that we should seek Jesus and His views on our situation. I believe if it is time to move on, He will show us the way and make a way. Until then, we continue our good works so that the name of our Father in heaven may be glorified through us, through our work. Ultimately, we must come across as someone who is dependable, responsible, ethical and good at what we do. We must be known as someone who will persevere through despite the challenging environment and difficult situation. Our God is greater and He will lead us to victory!
Ronnie's Thoughts 