My girlfriend is working as a teacher 2 hours from all friends family and me that she hates. She cries regularly about this situation
She is looking incredibly hard for a local job. Living 2 hours away, she saves zero dollars with living expenses and gains nothing except a year of experience on her resume.
She graduated from an incredibly good school with honors in a teaching masters degree.
She feels that if another job doesnt present itself very soon that she must go back to this school she hates. I try to tell her she does not but shes worried that it must be God's will that she teach there instead.

I do not at all want to step on God's toes but I feel that if any job made me feel this bad, I would leave it, work an hourly job in the mean time and not think twice about it.
I try to tell her that even if she leaves this job, God's will or not, God will still be there for her and just 're-route' His path so to speak.

I sent her Proverbs 16:9 - The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

I interpreted that as, God gave us free will to create our own paths and he will continue to provide unconditionally.

2 questions- Am I wrong to say that her working in a position that makes her cry at night and save zero money is not necessarily God's will and even if another job doesnt open up before the school year that does not mean you have to go back?

2nd- What can I say to her that might reference biblical lessons, stories and such that help guide her through this?

She would literally save more money living at home and wait tables but her family has this incredible standard and says you should stick out crappy jobs and if God doesnt open a job door then continue what you are doing. I disagree with that

Well, in James it talks about drawing nigh to God, and he'll draw nigh to you. Even if she quit teaching at the current school, and pray to the Lord about getting another job, and draw nigh to him, he'll answer and draw nigh to her. As far as having a job it may not even involve God's will. In the Bible there are different verses that talk about God's will. One is that God's will is that he'll have all men saved. He doesn't want anyone to burn in the lake of fire. He wants all humans to be saved, but not all are going to be saved because of denying Jesus. Another will of God is that you believe on his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. So, whether she stays teaching at her current school, or leaves and gets another job then the Lord will help her even if she is going through troubles and tribulation at her current job. Also, it's not about gain. The Bible says that if one supposes that gain is godliness from such withdraw thyself. Godliness with contentment is great gain. With food, and raiment let us be therewith content. We brought nothing into this world, and it's certain that we'll leave here with nothing. She might not gain more money, but she does gain an extra year of experience on her resume like you said. As far as her family having an incredible standard, it's not up to them as far as what job she should work at. She is her own person, and she should choose what she wants to do and seek guidance from the Lord. My mom, and dad are poor including myself, and they don't have no standard for me except to live for the Lord which I'm glad they taught me the right way. They support me with whatever job I choose. The Bible also talks about if there is envy and strife there is confusion and every evil work. If this job she has is bringing about confusion then I would say that she needs to get away from it because God is not the author of confusion. I would really pray about the situation, and keep asking God for guidance! God Bless!

Our time here on Earth is very short.


Spending that time unhappy is the worst thing a person can do.


That is the advice you need to give her.


If she wants to stay there and be miserable, so be it.

If you present her with an option to make her more happy and she doesn't take it, well, sadly that is her choosing to be miserable.


James 4:14 - Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.




This post was edited by Endure on Jun 23 2013 11:13am

My wife was having this kind of problem as well. I kept trying to help her and keep her going strong. And as you said about your girl and her families standards....so to does my wife has the same standard.
I dont have an end all to her problems. All I know is, when you are unhappy in your life and are at the lowest points...You must draw near to God. My wife would complain constantly about how she went to school for nothing and that she wouldnt ever get hired. Shes now finished her first year at a school that lives literally a mile from our apartment we live at. She was seeking bigger cities(Like 3-4 Hours away) and hoping something would open up and never gave a second thought about what was close to home. And at the time when she didnt expect it, the job just kinda fell into her lap. I know your girl is having a hard time and I know its easy for me to say...Go look for a job, but thats simply what she needs to do. She also needs to focus her energy on God and find a place to calm herself. Hope this helps.

I am also in a job I hate, where my faith is being tested everyday and though there are times that are sad and troubling, I am glad I have a place that leaves me broken so that I can draw near to God wholeheartedly. Cause I know if I was happy, I would be very selfish and praise myself more than I would praise God.

Thank you all for the feedback.
I will certainly continue to pray about it! My human brain is hoping that the job she should chose is clear and soon

Warrior-Storm- the only thing is the whole honor your parents commandment. Is she supposed to listen to them outright (provided theyre not asking her to be a horrible person obviously...)?
Its a confusing one to me. They want her to keep the job she hates if she has to because she will be under insurance then. I know my parents would just say go get a new job lol.
She's 24 and like I said, this job leaves zero money available for saving or extra curricular spending so the only bonus is that her resume doesnt go a year with no job

Thank you to all

Well, as you grow up you should honor your parents. Let them teach you in the ways that you should go so when you grow up you'll stay in them. The ways should be the ways of the Lord, of course. Love God, love one another, etc. But, when you grow older, and become an adult, as far as a job goes that doesn't mean you need to do whatever job your parents tell you. Learning the ways of the Lord, and getting a job are two separate things. My dad taught me the ways of the Lord and I honor him for that, but as far as a job I can get whatever job I want because it's my decision, not my parents. If you have to obey everything your parents tell you including what job you should have then you would be a robot, and under control, but we have freedom in Jesus. I understand the commandment says to honor your father, and mother and thy days shall be prolonged, but honor them for taking care of you, and teaching you the right way. But, getting a job is up to you and what your comfortable with and what you like to do. Consider these verses in Matthew Chapter 10:
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

An update (you can skip the wall of texts above if you're not familiar)

She was offered two jobs at home which is great.
One job at a Christian school
One job at a public school in the same city

She's always wanted to work at this public school.
The private school is where she went to high school.

Public school is 30% more money with retirement package.
Private school is of course 30% less and no retirement.

She verbally accepted a position at the private school and then public called and said we have a position for you.

She says God wants her to work at the private school and the less money is a form of obedience to God.
The private school will allow her to incorporate God more openly than public school.

I don't know how she knows God wants her at the private school. I have never had a feeling for that kind of thing.
I think she is afraid to say no to them after she said yes (but did not sign a contract).
To me, I see a retirement package and 30 % more money and say- that's the best decision on an already crippled teacher salary.

I want to be supportive. I don't want to get in the way of God's plan. I don't know what to do or say.
How do we know this is God saying work here and not her being afraid to back out because she knows the employers personally?

Ask her this. Its really that simple. She will probably get upset that your asking it but its what needs to be asked.

If she can teach kids more about God that dont already know, how much more would she gain in the future?
She would make more money at the public school and that would fade away. She could save some of those kids lives.
Try to think in Gods picture( The way your girl is saying)
She wont gain anything from the money but temporary happiness. But doing Gods will she will find joy in what she does and will be
rewarded for what she has done while she was on earth.

Viable points, yet a Christian speaker I once listened to told me that he speaks in public schools. He once said to me that even though he can't speak directly about God in school, people can see God trough him. I agree that at the private school, she would be teaching children more openly about God, but in a public school the same effect can be given off without having to speak directly about God. A teacher is a role model to kids. When they see Christ through one, they begin to wonder about it. Also, most of the children in the Christian private school already have God in their lives, whereas the kids in public school do not. "You can only plant the seed. It's their choice whether or not they want to develop it" is what my mother always said to me. You could try to plant the seed by working at a public school, or you can develop it by working in the Christian private school. Either way you are doing The Lord's work.

This post was edited by Airborne45 on Aug 30 2013 11:16pm

She is not alone.

My mother travels 1hr 45 to work everyday. As a teacher.
She is in the same boat.

Just remind her and comfort her
And pray that she will move to a better situation.