Minnesota's beleaguered governor has some explaining to do. (Well, more explaining to do, aside from the rampant fraud happening under his nose, if we're going to be technical.) Failed Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz was directly called out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after the group arrested an illegal immigrant sex...

Leave it to Rep. Ilhan Omar to pour more gasoline on the fire by labeling Wednesday's shooting death of an immigration enforcement protester as a "murder." Renee Nicole Good, 37, made a series of poor decisions by first parking her car in the middle of a Minneapolis street to block...

This story invites readers to think of a single word -- any word -- that defines modern liberalism. Then, having thought of that word, go ahead and imagine its effect on comedy. In the meantime, consider the sage advice of longtime comedian Conan O'Brien, who recently warned his peers that...

God is good. Pro-MAGA singer Joy Villa acknowledged this truth when she recently penned a lengthy essay for Evie Magazine acknowledging this truth. And while that alone is worth lauding, it's just as important to acknowledge what Villa left behind to truly embrace the Word of God. In a piece...

In seasons of feeling overlooked or misunderstood, God’s presence offers intimate assurance. This prayer draws you into the powerful truth of Isaiah 49:16—that you are engraved on His hands and eternally known by your Creator.

After graduating from college this spring, I had four days of rest before jumping headlong into a full-time corporate position. People congratulated me on landing a job straight out of college—especially considering I’d been a writing major. But following the applause came the exposing question: “Have you been enjoying what you do at work?” My lackluster response echoed that of many newly graduated employees in their first jobs: “It’s not my dream, but it pays!” Many sympathized with me, communicating similar experiences. But some suggested I should use my free time to find something better suited to my abilities. Why settle for the mundane? For my generation, the narratives surrounding career journeys are dizzying. We’re told that getting a job—any job—is the responsible thing to do. At the same time, we’re told a competing narrative: If you don’t like where you are, you deserve more. If your current employer doesn’t appreciate your talent and value, look elsewhere. Always chase the promotion, or a different job altogether. Yet statements like these—even if they have some semblance of truth—perpetuate a discontented, self-serving spirit. If you’re wading through a disorienting season of elusive career direction, remember this: God’s purposes remain trustworthy, even when they aren’t immediately revealed. Prepare a Sanctified Heart Certain jobs may indeed be temporary placeholders or stepping stones on the way to something bigger. It’s not wrong to have career aspirations and to explore other opportunities while we are working a less ideal job. However, it’s a mistake to diminish what God can do in and through us in the present moment. When we perceive the professional starting line only as a means to a more desirable “next step” in our career, an insidious sense of chronic dissatisfaction grows within us. Colossians 3:23–24 directs us: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” This biblical instruction doesn’t change whether our occupation is appealing or not. The phrase “whatever you do” encompasses both desirable appointments and grunt work; heavenly rewards for a job well done don’t fluctuate based on the person’s delight in it. The phrase ‘whatever you do’ encompasses both desirable appointments and grunt work. These verses fall into the “easier said than done” category of Scripture. But if we have difficult or monotonous jobs, we can prepare our hearts before the workday starts. If, like me, you have a lengthy commute, use this time to humble yourself before the Lord through prayer, worship music, or listening to a sermon. I particularly love the hymn “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence,” an ancient liturgy that calls me to “ponder nothing earthly minded.” If you work from home, carve out a devoted period before your workday to quietly commune with God. While it may require bumping back your alarm, nourishing your soul in the early waking moments sets the tone for the day and prepares you for whatever frustration or uncertainty is ahead. Paul explicitly warns believers about the chase for wealth, influence, and recognition—all emphasized in the world of “climbing the corporate ladder.” He emphasizes that “godliness with contentment is great gain,” but “those who desire to be rich fall into temptation . . . into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” (1 Tim. 6:6, 9). Keeping your heart centered on God helps you be cheerfully resilient in unfavorable work situations, while rebuking greed for power and recognition. Every Field Is a Mission Field Unfulfilling positions can make us feel like our hard-fought academic endeavors were for naught. Taking “filler jobs” can seem like we’re missing our true purpose. The word “job” is sometimes used interchangeably with “vocation.” The latter comes from the Latin verb vocare (“to call”). Christians will have different jobs. But we all share a calling in the mission God lays out in Scripture: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19–20). Christians will have different jobs. But we all share a calling in the mission God lays out in Scripture. At least one part of every Christian’s vocation is clear: to spread the gospel. This assignment can be fulfilled in any workplace. More important than our job title in our email signature is a title God gives every Christian: “witness.” To be a faithful witness of the gospel is to make the most of whatever space we’re in, seeking to align our personal goals with God’s mission. Difficult jobs will remain unbearable if we’re hyperfocused on our unaccomplished dreams. But by shifting our focus to how we can presently pursue God’s goals, we’ll be far more satisfied. Don’t Waste the Waiting It’s not inherently wrong to have hopes and dreams for your career. Half the excitement of college is looking forward to making waves in the field you’re passionate about. However, the reality of “dream jobs” is that they rarely manifest overnight. Most careers include a lengthy period of acquiring new skills, gaining experience, and “doing your time” in entry- and mid-level positions. Instead of becoming discouraged, Christian young people should see this as an opportunity to cultivate tenacity and patience—virtues that will serve them beyond any career position. Work hard even when it’s boring. Be a team player whom people like working with, even if you wish you were anywhere else. Christians are called to steward whatever God has given them presently, for “one who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much” (Luke 16:10). Focusing on proving yourself as a responsible employee will equip you far better than daydreaming of some hoped-for future. It’s easy to become caught up in the worldly rat race, driven by self-centered aspirations. Instead, train yourself for longevity in the only competition that ultimately matters. Aim to “run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross” (Heb. 12:1–2). The One who completed the hardest work imaginable did so with immeasurable joy, commitment, and a willing spirit. Who are we to strive for any less?

In Psalm 131, King David writes about having “a calm and quiet soul.” Calm and quiet. Those certainly aren’t words I typically use to describe my soul. My husband and I relocated from Illinois to North Carolina last summer, and if you’ve ever moved, you know that the process is chaotic. In the weeks following, it felt like our home was constantly cluttered with moving boxes, bubble wrap, and all the mess that comes with kids out of school for summer break. Life at that time felt busy and joyful, but there was nothing tranquil about my home––which made it harder to find tranquility in my soul. David was no stranger to chaos or change or grief or challenges. He suffered through far more than I can imagine, yet he experienced peace. He knew that deep, lasting rest doesn’t depend on us or our circumstances. It depends on God. So what would it take for us to have a calm and quiet soul as David did? Rest Requires Humility The answer is found in Psalm 131:1: “O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.” This verse demonstrates a posture of humility. David isn’t shoving forward with blind ambition. He’s not trying to do more than God has called him to do. He’s not arrogant or above others. Instead, he accepts what God created him to be and to do––not someone meant to know everything or do everything. Therefore, he can rest like a weaned child in his mother’s arms. Humility is a prerequisite for rest. We won’t have a calm and quiet soul if we never admit we’re fearful or insecure or frantic or arrogant. We won’t find rest if we don’t think we need it. And when we finally confess we need it, the only place to find it is through Christ. But how does our lack of humility keep us from finding rest? Here are four ways. 1. We refuse to ask for help. Exodus 18 tells us that when Moses was serving alone as a judge for the Israelites, his father-in-law said to him, What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. (vv. 17–18) How many of us are wearing ourselves out because we’re trying to do everything on our own? We don’t want to bruise our fragile egos by admitting we need something. Humility is a prerequisite for rest. We won’t find rest if we don’t think we need it. Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” We all need God and others. That’s not a flaw—it’s by design. 2. We believe we’re entitled to information. Our arrogance can come out in believing we have a right to know everything or wanting to find safety and security in information. When David talks in Psalm 131:1 about not occupying himself with things too great and marvelous, he’s choosing to accept that his knowledge is limited. He isn’t privy to every detail in the universe. It’s not that David is forgoing his responsibilities. Rather, he’s refusing to take up what was never his to carry. Our angst can stem from our need to be fully informed about everything. We subconsciously think that if we know it, we can control it. This can come out in helicopter parenting, incessant googling, doomscrolling, constantly refreshing the news, or gossip. Instead of believing we can find security in more information, we need to humbly surrender our anxieties to the all-knowing God. We need to trust God enough not to have to know every detail. 3. We habitually overcommit. Overcommitting sometimes comes from the mentality that it all depends on us. Other times, we fear what people will think if we say no. Whatever the reason, many of us are frantic and harried because of deadlines and projects and events we think we have to do, when we may be running at a pace God never asked of us. In Romans 12:2–8, Paul talks about how we all have different gifts we use to serve––but he prefaces this section by warning us not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought. In other words, be humble. We’re the body of Christ, and when we’re truly humbled by the gospel, we recognize we’re finite and dependent. We work together with other parts of the body, doing what we’re called to do and leaving room for others to do what God has called them to do. 4. We make our own way. Remember the story in Genesis 16? God’s promise to give Abraham and Sarah an heir seemed to be taking a while, so the couple agreed they should have a child by Sarah’s servant, Hagar. But in Genesis 17, God clarified that it’d be the son of Abraham and Sarah through whom God would establish his covenant. We all need God and others. That’s not a flaw—it’s by design. Like those Old Testament saints, we sometimes try to get ahead of God’s plans. Our impatience leads us to try to make our own way instead of waiting on God. But God’s timing isn’t ours. God has never been––and will never be––in a rush. Joshua 21:45 says, “Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.” We serve that same God. Not one of his promises will go unfulfilled. In the meantime, our job is to be faithful to do what he’s asked––not to make our own way when his seems to be taking too long. Held by a Good God When my family moved, I worried about all the little details, and I wanted every task to get done yesterday. But when I stop to consider my worry and impatience, I realize those vices ultimately come from pride. I didn’t trust God to provide, so I thought I had to figure it out on my own, and I wanted everything done on my timeline. True and lasting rest comes not from a finished to-do list or orderly circumstances but from trusting God and humbly recognizing our place before him. Like a weaned child in his mother’s arms, we can have a calm and quiet soul because we’re held by a good and gracious God.

At a time when we typically live longer than any generation before us, it seems all we want to do is preserve our youth. From hair dye to microblading, antiaging creams to Botox, we negotiate with age through products, surgeries, and even downright denial. But Scripture tells us that wisdom is with the aged and gray hair is a crown of glory—so why are we so age-averse? In this panel discussion recorded at TGCW24, Courtney Doctor, Vanessa Hawkins, Melissa Kruger, Laura Wifler, and Jen Wilkin talk about why a biblical perspective on aging means we don’t have to fear the years. In This Episode 00:00 – Aging and panel participation challenges 03:32 – Cultural and personal influences on aging 05:53 – Beauty and aging in modern culture 11:46 – Role of influence and responsibility 17:16 – Challenges of aging and chronic pain 20:59 – Balancing stewardship and idolatry 36:24 – Redefining identity and purpose in aging 38:07 – Importance of mentorship and role models 39:53 – Embracing aging and the gift of years SIGN UP for one of our newsletters to stay informed about TGC’s latest resources. Help The Gospel Coalition renew and unify the contemporary church in the ancient gospel: Give today. Don’t miss an episode of The Gospel Coalition Podcast: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube