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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
spiritually sick work envirnoment	Constance	Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Question: What advice would you have for a person who works in an environment that is unquestionably displeasing to God, who desires to get out, but who has no other job or source of income at the present? I am in a job that I have known for a long time is bad. Not only is the work itself unsavory, but the people connected to it, as it brings out the absolute worst traits of the human condition. I almost feel like it is a form of bondage that needs to be quit cold turkey, yet the reality of needing to pay bills and survive remains. I am prepared to live off what little I have saved until I find another job, but I was hoping that I could use that savings to supplement my income when I get a new job as I have assumed the pay for a new job will be substantially less. I have been praying alot and the more I pray, the more repulsed I am every day when I go in to work. It is almost unbearable. I don't know if this is my conscience suddenly kicking in, a prompting from God or both, but I am faced with a dilemma. I welcome your guidance and thank you for your time.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Constance: I am sorry to hear about your work conditions. It is a great burden to have to work in an environment like that you describe. I would certainly encourage looking for another job by whatever means is available to you, but especially in the current economic environment I would not recommend you quit this job until you have found another one to replace it. To quit the job an live on savings is a great risk. You could easily end up with no saving and no job. You have a moral obligation to support yourself, and your family if you have a family. That obligation requires us sometimes to work in terrible environments in jobs we hate. In Catholic theology we talk about "offering up suffering". If we offer up our suffering to Christ, join our suffering with the suffering that Christ bore, then our suffering can have meaning, it become redemptive. Suffering actually strengthens our faith The Scriptures affirm this idea: Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 1 Pet 4:13 But if you partake of the sufferings of Christ, rejoice that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 2 Cor 1:4-7 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we also may be able to comfort them who are in all distress, by the exhortation wherewith we also are exhorted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us: so also by Christ doth our comfort abound. Now whether we be in tribulation, it is for your exhortation and salvation: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation: or whether we be exhorted, it is for your exhortation and salvation, which worketh the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer. That our hope for you may be steadfast: knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall you be also of the consolation. Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 1 Pet 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 1 Pet 2:21 For unto this are you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow his steps. 1 Pet 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 1 Pet 3:17 For it is better doing well (if such be the will of God) to suffer than doing ill. 1 Pet 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 1 Pet 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. The point is that in the meantime, between now and the time you can find another job you can turn your suffering from this job into a redemptive suffering by offering the suffering to God for the conversion of your co-workers. Accept the suffering as a suffering with Christ and rejoice. It is a great privilege to suffer for Christ. By offering this suffering and accepting it as a privilege, along with your prayers for a new job, God may well reward you with another job. In any event, you will receive a grace and be rewarded by God for your lifting up your suffering to Him. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

spiritually sick work envirnoment

Constance

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Question:

What advice would you have for a person who works in an environment that is unquestionably displeasing to God, who desires to get out, but who has no other job or source of income at the present?

I am in a job that I have known for a long time is bad. Not only is the work itself unsavory, but the people connected to it, as it brings out the absolute worst traits of the human condition. I almost feel like it is a form of bondage that needs to be quit cold turkey, yet the reality of needing to pay bills and survive remains.

I am prepared to live off what little I have saved until I find another job, but I was hoping that I could use that savings to supplement my income when I get a new job as I have assumed the pay for a new job will be substantially less. I have been praying alot and the more I pray, the more repulsed I am every day when I go in to work. It is almost unbearable. I don't know if this is my conscience suddenly kicking in, a prompting from God or both, but I am faced with a dilemma.

I welcome your guidance and thank you for your time.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Constance:

I am sorry to hear about your work conditions. It is a great burden to have to work in an environment like that you describe.

I would certainly encourage looking for another job by whatever means is available to you, but especially in the current economic environment I would not recommend you quit this job until you have found another one to replace it. To quit the job an live on savings is a great risk. You could easily end up with no saving and no job.

You have a moral obligation to support yourself, and your family if you have a family. That obligation requires us sometimes to work in terrible environments in jobs we hate.

In Catholic theology we talk about "offering up suffering". If we offer up our suffering to Christ, join our suffering with the suffering that Christ bore, then our suffering can have meaning, it become redemptive. Suffering actually strengthens our faith

The Scriptures affirm this idea:

Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
1 Pet 4:13 But if you partake of the sufferings of Christ, rejoice that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
2 Cor 1:4-7 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we also may be able to comfort them who are in all distress, by the exhortation wherewith we also are exhorted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us: so also by Christ doth our comfort abound.
Now whether we be in tribulation, it is for your exhortation and salvation: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation: or whether we be exhorted, it is for your exhortation and salvation, which worketh the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer. That our hope for you may be steadfast: knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall you be also of the consolation.
Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
1 Pet 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
1 Pet 2:21 For unto this are you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow his steps.
1 Pet 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
1 Pet 3:17 For it is better doing well (if such be the will of God) to suffer than doing ill.
1 Pet 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
1 Pet 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

The point is that in the meantime, between now and the time you can find another job you can turn your suffering from this job into a redemptive suffering by offering the suffering to God for the conversion of your co-workers. Accept the suffering as a suffering with Christ and rejoice. It is a great privilege to suffer for Christ.

By offering this suffering and accepting it as a privilege, along with your prayers for a new job, God may well reward you with another job. In any event, you will receive a grace and be rewarded by God for your lifting up your suffering to Him.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.