Welcome to Faithful on the Clock!

00:05

Hey, everybody! I’m your host, Wanda Thibodeaux, and you’re listening to Faithful on the Clock, the podcast all about getting your faith and work aligned. So here’s what’s on the agenda. Today, in this premiere episode, you’ll get a little of my background and learn what led me to the mic for you. I’ll talk about my podcast mission and what you can expect with every episode. Plus, I’ll share my all-time favorite scripture verse about work so it can inspire YOU in every step of your career journey. Let’s get to it!

00:45

If you want to learn more about what I do and see some of my work, visit my website, takingdication.com, or head on over to any of my social media profiles--I’ll have links in the show notes so it’s super easy to find me on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Medium.

But about half a dozen years ago I really started focusing on business writing, and I got specialized into topics like mental health, psychology, that kind of thing. And I was enormously privileged through that work to talk to all kinds of leaders from just about every industry.

But the more I wrote, the more I noticed that so many of the people that I talked to were just heartbreakingly burned out. And I could see how they kept looking over and over for ways to get out from the pressure and anxiety they were under in business systems that even they admitted were broken. And I just couldn’t get over this feeling like they felt lost and were desperate for some help. I kept thinking that there has to be a better way to think and work and be. And I wondered what I could do to erase the disconnect people seemed to have from their jobs and joy.

So every day, I just kept feeling this push on my heart a little more, a little more. And eventually, I said to myself, OK, maybe I’m not the CEO of some big company, you know, but I do know the Creator of the Universe, and maybe I can help these business people see their lives and work through the Father’s lens a bit more clearly.

02:22

So with this podcast, my first mission is to help you build a personal relationship with God. That’s first and foremost, because no matter what you might face in the conference room or anywhere else, He’s the One who’s going to invest in you and have your back the most. My second mission is to give you clear direction and integrity about how to work so you can be truly happy and successful.

And if we’re successful together on this journey, then we’ll get rid of the burnout, all the stress, the depression you might feel that’s so rampant among professionals today. We’ll learn how to do business in a way that leaves you with a light burden and that you can be proud of when you bring it to God.

3:05

Now to get us started together, I want to share the scripture that speaks to me the most about work. It’s John 9:4, and the NIV version says, “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.”

And I love this verse because Jesus was telling his disciples that everyone who has faith has the same responsibility to work for God that Jesus did. Everybody who serves God is on the same team with the same vision.

But Jesus was also clear that a time will come when that work will be over and God’s word will be fulfilled. And how awesome is it to know that there will be a day when we can reach that finish line, and all we’ll have to do is be with Jesus? To know there aren’t any more hurdles to get over?

And I use this verse to keep me grounded, and just to remember, you know, I can go ahead and schedule this project or call so and so, but in the end, nothing matters more than doing what God would want. There is no greater work to prioritize than that service.

There’s a beautiful hymn that’s based on this scripture called “Work for the Night Is Coming”, so I’ll leave a link to that in the show notes so you can listen. I challenge you to memorize John 9:4. Take that verse and put it somewhere you can see it every day. And I hope that it can be the same inspiration for you that it’s been for me.

4:31

So I just want to close out with a prayer.

God, everyone out there who is listening to this first podcast today clicked that play button because they want to be a successful professional without losing sight of You. Keep them motivated to learn and listen, and open my heart to know what topics will speak to them the most no matter what they want to do in their career. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

5:07

That’s all I have for this episode. Thanks so much for spending these few minutes of your day with me. Join me next time when I’ll be talking about the real purpose for self-development, and until then, be blessed.