Written by BCC Counselor Dr. Luke Trifilio
Our jobs can be a significant source of stress in our lives. However, the Lord gives us insight into how we should approach the work that He has established for us.
Even if you are not experiencing stress at work right now, I hope you will also be encouraged in the practice of turning from stressful situations to worshiping the Lord.
“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.” (Colossians 3:23-24)
The Challenge of Stress
Stress, in light of Scripture, is the internal weight that arises when we feel the demands placed upon us are greater than the ability we believe we have to meet them. The Bible often speaks of this condition using words like “burden” (Psalm 55:22), “trouble” (John 16:33), “anxiety” (Proverbs 12:25), or being “weary and heavy laden” (Matthew 11:28).
From a biblical perspective, stress is not merely a physiological reaction; it is also a heart-level response to life under God’s providence. It reveals what we trust, what we fear, and where we believe our help will come from. For the believer, stress becomes a spiritual decision: it can drive us into self-reliance and fear of man, or it can press us into deeper reliance on the Lord.
Changes at work amplify stress because you step into unknown systems, untested relationships, and new performance standards. Saul the Pharisee had a career change as he became the Apostle Paul. He knew about stress as he felt “the daily pressure… of anxiety for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:28).
Left unchecked, stress can become overwhelming. It drains us emotionally, clouds our judgment, disrupts our sleep, and steals our joy. Spiritually, it can also tempt us to fear people more than God: “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe” (Proverbs 29:25).
Work Redeemed Through the Gospel
Work is part of God’s good design. God created humanity in His image to exercise dominion over creation and to “work it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15). Work is not a result of The Fall; rather, it is intrinsic to human identity and purpose. This means work—whether paid or unpaid—has dignity because it reflects God’s own creative and sustaining activity. Work is worship when it flows from love for Jesus, depends on His strength, and seeks His glory as its highest aim.
Our work should glorify God. All work is to be done unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23-24), making work an act of worship. Work is a way to love God by obeying His calling and loving our neighbor by serving them through what we produce or provide (Matthew 22:37-39). Faithful work is a form of living sacrifice offered for God’s pleasure (Romans 12:1). Work is not a distraction from worship—it is a primary context for worship. When done in faith and obedience, every task becomes an offering to the Lord, reflecting His glory and fulfilling His purpose for our lives.
Worship is not confined to a church service (John 4:23-24); it is the posture of the heart in all circumstances. The line between sacred and secular disappears when Christ is Lord over “all things” (Colossians 1:16-17). The Fall brought toil, futility, and idolatry to work (Ecclesiastes 2:11). People either idolize work (seeking identity and worth from it) or despise work (avoiding responsibility). Worship is corrupted when work replaces God as the source of our security or purpose.
Thankfully, there is redemption in Christ! In Christ, believers are freed from the curse of work as one’s identity (Ephesians 2:8-10). Work becomes a redeemed activity for spiritual growth, witness, and service. Worship fuels work when believers draw strength from their union with Christ (John 15:5). When our work is motivated by love for Christ and offered to Him, it becomes an act of worship—turning ordinary tasks into expressions of devotion and obedience.
Working Rightly Relieves Stress
When you worship through your work, you acknowledge God as the ultimate owner of your time, talents, and opportunities. You carry out your responsibilities with integrity, diligence, and excellence because they reflect His character.
Your goal is not just a paycheck or recognition but God’s pleasure, “rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man” (Eph 6:7).
- It anchors your identity in Christ, not in performance. In Christ, you are already accepted (Ephesians 1:6). Your value is not determined by whether a boss notices your efforts or a client praises your work.
- It redefines success. Success is faithfulness, not applause. If you have done your work “heartily, as for the Lord,” you have succeeded, even if earthly rewards are delayed or absent.
- It creates a God-centered focus. Fixing your eyes on the Lord removes the exhausting comparison to others and releases you from the tyranny of human expectations.
- It transforms ordinary tasks into acts of worship. Even the most routine assignments—answering emails, preparing reports, attending meetings—become opportunities to serve Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:31).
People-Pleasing Intensifies Stress
People-pleasing is seeking identity, value, or emotional security in the approval of others rather than in God. When career performance becomes a means to gain human acceptance, stress multiplies!
Scripture warns against this trap. Paul declared, “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God?… If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Gal 1:10). Trying to serve both people’s opinions and God’s glory is like trying to row a boat in opposite directions—it goes nowhere and only exhausts and frustrates.
In our jobs, the temptation is subtle. You want to be seen as competent, likable, and indispensable. While these are not bad desires in themselves, they become dangerous when they take the throne of your heart.
Worship in the Context of Work
Worship is not confined to singing on Sunday mornings; it is the wholehearted response of the believer to God’s worth and glory in every sphere of life. The Apostle Paul tells us to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1).
Stressed at work? Here are some healthy habits to include with your workday:
- Begin each workday with prayer. Offer your schedule, meetings, and projects to the Lord, asking Him to guide your attitude and actions.
- Write out Colossians 3:23-24 and keep it where you can see it. Memorize it and let it remind you daily of your true Boss.
- Pause before stressful tasks. Reorientate and remind yourself, “I’m doing this for Christ, not to prove myself to people.”
- Guard your thought life. Refuse to measure your worth by others’ reactions—measure it by your faithfulness to the Lord.
- Respond to stressful situations in the Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; Galatians 5:22-23), demonstrating Christlike character in moments of pressure.
- Reframe your perceptions; that is, tasks become acts of service to the Lord, not hurdles to impress the crowd.
- Know that your identity is secured: you work from the assurance that you are already loved and accepted in Christ, not to earn that acceptance.
- Close the day with gratitude and reflect on where you saw God’s hand in your work and thank Him for sustaining you.
Conclusion
God is sovereign over our careers (Psalm 190:17). He promises to shepherd us through uncertainty (Psalm 23:1-4). His grace is sufficient for every new demand (2 Corinthians 12:9). Our true reward is from Him, not from human recognition (Colossians 3:23-24).
Stress in our jobs can be redemptive—it can become a place of worship and trust when we remember that God Himself ordains our steps, equips us for every task, and works all things for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28).
